#the latest person I saw said past chapter 3. they must have stopped playing then bc kaz was hella busy in ch 4 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

wrenhyperfixates · 4 years ago

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Of All the Places

Chapter 3

Pairing: Loki x reader Series Summary: Washing up in a small town in Oklahoma was definitely not part of Loki’s plan when he came to conquer Midgard. There is one good thing about it, though: No one recognizes him as the one who just wreaked havoc in New York. So, Loki plans to recover from the battle and move on with his life. The only problem? He’s not sure he can leave you. Chapter Summary: Loki battles with new thoughts and feelings as time goes on. While trying to convince himself to leave, he does his best to stop his growing connection to you and Matt. Chapter Warnings: some angst, but also fluff A/N: Third chapter done! For anyone wondering about James, there’s some more information on him in this chapter. And for anyone who saw that other post, this isn’t the super long chapter yet, sorry! Updates every Friday. As always, hope you enjoy :)

Tag List: @lucywrites02 @frostedgiantfavs @lunarmoon8 @twhiddlestonsstuff

✥ Start at Beginning ✥ | ← Previous Chapter | Next Chapter →

Disclaimer: Gif not mine

One week later, Loki was ready to leave. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself. He’d done his best to keep his distance, and yet he kept getting roped into conversations with you. Surely, though, that was wholly due to your persistence and in no part because he was drawn to you. And this family breakfast he was at yet again? Simply because he was addicted to pancakes. It had nothing to do with you, or your family, or your kind eyes. Okay, maybe it had the tiniest bit to do with your kind eyes. The way you looked at him was like nothing he’d ever known before. Frigga had always done it with a gentle love, but it was always reserved and hidden behind a queenly mask. With you, he could see every thought that passed through your mind reflected in your eyes. He shouldn’t have enjoyed being seen as a bird with a broken wing, but the care you gave him was something he quite liked.

“Hey,” you whispered, nudging him in the side as the rest of the table laughed at something. “You ok?”

“Yes. Just lost in thought I suppose.”

“I hate to interrupt,” Mama curtly interjected, “but whispering at the table ain’t polite.”

Ah, now if Loki was looking for a reason to leave, he could certainly find one in Mama. Though you’d been the one to start the hushed conversation, she was looking pointedly at Loki as if he was the instigator. Then again, she acted like every bad thing that happened since his arrival was his fault, even things he had no control over. Maybe spiting her by staying was reason enough for his delayed departure.

“Sorry,” you said before he could deliver a withering insult. “It’s my fault.”

Mama just made a little humming noise in reply that obviously showed she neither blamed you nor appreciated you taking the fall. In the time that Loki had been at your farm, she either avoided him like the plague or dealt thinly veiled insults his way. It was grating on his nerves, but there wasn’t much he could do bar revealing himself as an all-powerful god. Or leaving. That was always an option, he reminded himself.

“Son, I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Papa started, ignoring the tension like always, “I’ve misplaced that dang camera again. I’ll find it again soon though, don’t you worry.”

Little did he know, that camera’s disappearing act was entirely due to Loki’s magic. He’d hidden it around the house a number of times, never anywhere too outrageous as to avoid suspicion. Perhaps this time he’d just keep it in a dimensional pocket. Or let Taffy knock it over. Maybe if it was broken, you’d give up on the missing person ad idea. He’d worried that you would just use your phone cameras instead, but Papa was convinced that the quality would not be good enough.

“It is quite alright, sir. Your hospitality is more than enough. In fact, I really ought to be on my way soon,” he finished, throwing a glance at you to gauge your reaction, feeling an odd spark of happiness when you sank down in your seat.

“No!” Matt cried. “I don’t want you to.”

He crossed his arms as if that solved everything. It did, however, soften Loki a little. As it turns out, he was very fond of the little guy. On Asgard he’d never had much time to spend with children, but it seemed like he had inherited his mother’s natural ability to be good with them. Inherited is the wrong word, actually, he bitterly thought to himself. She’s not your real mother, after all.

“Matt, if he wants to leave, we really should let him,” Mama scolded, with an almost hopeful expression.

“Actually, I do not see why I shouldn’t stay a bit longer,” Loki said, flashing a false grin at the woman. “There really is no rush, I suppose.”

“Yeah,” she muttered. “No rush.”

“Well, Loki, since Matt has taken to you so well, maybe you’d like to watch him this afternoon?” Ana asked, pretending she didn’t hear Mama’s latest remark.

“It would be my pleasure,” he responded, surprised by the sincerity of that statement.

The family had still been avoiding giving Loki strenuous tasks, believing that he was just incredibly good at hiding his ailments. To keep up appearances, he pretended to have a particularly bad ache or pain every once in a while. Whenever he did, you’d instantly appear at his side and usher him to a seat. He’d try to get up, but you would tell him to stay put in your best stern tone, which he found rather adorable, though he’d never admit it. Then you’d fetch him a glass of water and watch over him for the next hour, or until you decided he was well enough to get up again.

Fifteen minutes later, it was time to start the day and everyone helped clear the table. Your family had made the process as efficient as possible. Mama and John would bring the dishes to Papa in the kitchen, who would hand them to you to put in the dishwasher after rinsing them off. Ana and Matt would put away all the leftovers and toppings from whatever had just been on the menu. Loki helped out where he could, but most days everyone besides Mama insisted he should take it easy, that he could help when he was fully healed. It was odd, he realized, that you were all planning on him being around that long. He felt that familiar, nagging, guilty feeling he’d been getting ever since he arrived. He was not a fan.

By the time Ana and John were ready to leave, Loki had already collected the eggs, the only daily chore he was given, and was ready to watch Matt. It was only as the boy was hugging his parents goodbye that Loki realized he wasn’t really sure what to do with the child for the next few hours. He was thankful that you seemed like you were planning on sticking around, too. It did make sense, he supposed, that they hadn’t completely trusted the boy with a near stranger.

“Aren’t you healthy, mommy?” Matt asked, clinging to Ana’s leg as she tried to get away. “Why do you have to go to the doctor?”

“Because you’re going to have a little brother or sister soon,” Ana explained in a sweet tone as she gently pried her son away. “Mommy and Daddy have to go to the doctor to make sure the baby is healthy.”

Loki’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had not yet realized that Ana was pregnant. She must not have been very far along because she wasn’t showing much yet. Though, now that he knew to look, the god could see a small baby bump. Based on Matt’s reaction, he was already aware that he’d have a sibling soon, but he still couldn’t quite grasp the concept of everything that went along with that.

“Will you be back soon?” Matt questioned, finally giving up his efforts to keep his parents where they were.

“In the blink of an eye, small fry,” John said, placing a kiss on his head.

That seemed to satisfy Matt, who wandered over to Loki and put his arms up, clearly looking to be picked up. He hesitated for a second before scooping up the boy. It wasn’t that he was afraid of dropping him, in fact he was sure he wouldn’t, but he’d never held a child before. Up until a few days ago, he wasn’t sure he even had the slightest inkling how to be nurturing. And then there was the whole problem of Matt becoming too attached. Not to mention the way you looked at him when he did held him. That soft gaze was a problem for sure.

“Alright,” you said once Ana and John were gone. “What do you want to do, buddy?”

“Hide and seek!” he shouted. Then he put his small, chubby hands on Loki’s cheeks and used his most serious tone. “You’ll never find me. I have the best hidey spots.”

Loki let out a nervous chuckle. Truth be told, he didn’t know how to play this game. When he and Thor were kids, they played run and attack, but he felt like this was probably not very comparable. Midgard was a very different place, after all.

“Just count to sixty and then come look for us. We’ll stay in the house,” you informed Loki as he passed Matt off to you. “Oh, and just shout out when you’re starting to look.”

“Thank you,” he replied, turning around to face the wall.

It was odd, he thought, that he seemed to have said thank you more in the past week than he had in the last century of his existence. He’d never meant to let himself get so bitter, but here he was stewing in that awful feeling. When the flash of anger receded, the God of Mischief realized he was face to face with a framed family tree. Highest up were pictures of couples he could only assume were your grandparents. Next line down was Mama, Papa, and their siblings. You and Ana were in the next row, and it struck him just how much you and your sister looked alike. Matt and John were there too, but the person that most captured his attention was your brother. The middle child, he guessed, since the picture was in between those of you and Ana. He gently ran his fingers over the looping gold cursive of James’s name. Loki loved a good mystery, but he needed clues and evidence to solve one. He knew next to nothing about the guy, other than that he’d been wearing his clothes for the past seven days.

“I am starting to look now,” Loki awkwardly shouted, feeling self-conscious about seeming like he was talking to no one.

He thought he heard a small snort coming from one of the upper levels at his gawky declaration, so he headed up first. It felt odd to go rifling through things, so he mainly tried just to peer under furniture, though he did open a closet once or twice. He huffed and considered if he should venture into any of your rooms. If you weren’t there, though, he’d feel like he was intruding on something private and sacred. Hesitating with a hand hovering over the doorknob to your room, he noticed the attic hatch out of the corner of his eye. Standing still, he could hear a very subtle shuffling noise coming from above him, so either you were there, or you’d better call pest control.

As soon as he climbed the ladder, Matt started giggling, but Loki pretended he couldn’t hear. He loudly walked in between the boxes littering the floor, every once in a while dramatically peering around an old piece of furniture. It only made the laughs louder.

“Now where could they be?” he sighed in mock exasperation. “Maybe, they’re here!”

Then he jumped around the couch you were hiding behind and started tickling Matt. The boy squealed in delight and squirmed away. When Loki looked at you, he saw something shocking on your face. Admiration. It was something he’d longed for from so many people in his life, and here you were giving it so freely to him. He moved his gaze elsewhere before his mind could wander any further.

“What’s all the ruckus up here?” Mama asked, her head appearing from the door. After spotting Loki, her eyes narrowed. “Oh. It’s you.”

“We were just playing hide and seek, Mama. Don’t worry,” you said.

“Indeed. I must say, it is much fun,” Loki added, though more to annoy her than ease her mind.

“I’m sure,” she replied before taking Matt by the hand. “Come on, let’s get you something to eat.”

You shot Loki an apologetic glance as you headed out after her. Once Matt’s snack was finished, Loki partook in some coloring. He was oddly pleased to know the little boy’s favorite color was green, and you seemed fairly partial to it, too. Ana and John returned roughly an hour later, and Loki finished the day by doing chores around the farm. Another thing he’d learned about himself was that he really didn’t mind doing manual labor. Growing up in the Royal Palace Valaskjalf, he never had to lift a finger to help cook or clean or do anything much besides training and lessons, really. Now he found himself almost eager to get into the kitchen for a cooking lesson with Papa or help out in the fields, the latter of which definitely had nothing to do with showing off for you.

He’d been on his way to the kitchen that evening sometime after dinner, his infamous sweet tooth bugging him again, when he heard Mama’s hushed voice.

“I’m telling you Earl, something about that boy just don’t sit right with me.”

“Come on, honey. He can’t even remember nothing. It’s our duty to help him out,” Loki heard Papa reply as he hid just outside the door.

“He may say he can’t remember, but I ain’t buying it. We should get him out soon as possible.”

It shouldn’t bother him as much as it did, but there was nothing to stop him from feeling the sting of those words. He really should just leave; it had been his plan after all. As if they had a will of their own, Loki’s feet carried him away from the conversation, out the door, and off the porch. He never should have taken advantage of your family’s generosity. He regretted thinking about you, though, because it made his steps falter a bit. And then there was sweet little Matt. It hadn’t really hit him until now, but Loki actually enjoyed himself today. He couldn’t recall the last day he could say that about.

“I hope you weren’t going to leave without saying goodbye.”

The trickster god whirled around at the sound of your voice. He’d been too caught up in his tumultuous thoughts to notice you leaning on one of the porch’s posts.

“Certainly not,” he lied. “I just needed some fresh air is all.”

“In that case, I know the perfect place. Come on.”

You took his hand and led him away from your land. He tried not to pay attention to the feeling of your hand in his. In fact, he tried to block it out altogether, but to no avail. Eventually, you reached a peaceful creek and picked up a rock to skip.

“If I was going to leave,” he began after a few minutes of contemplative silence, “I really would be fine. I appreciate all that you and your family have done, truly, but perhaps it’s best if I go.”

“Look, I know you’re pretty much all healed up, but you still don’t remember anything. I cannot in good conscience let you out into the world like that.”

“I suppose that is fair. Your mother certainly does not agree with your assessment, though.”

You sighed. “If Mama’s the reason you feel you should go, please just ignore her. She means well and all, but... Well, let’s just say she has her reasons for acting this way,”

Loki said nothing but raised his eyebrows at you. One part of him felt bad to press you for more information, even if it was done without words. The much larger part of himself, however, was entirely too curious to not know.

“Okay, so remember when I told you about my brother?”

Loki nodded eagerly, ready to get some answers about what exactly had happened there.

“Well, he was... He was killed in an accident with a drunk driver a couple years ago,” you recounted, tearing up a little bit. “Mama had trust issues even before, but they’re much worse now.”

“I am so sorry, darling,” Loki said, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder, but not daring to go any further than that.

He felt bad for your loss, but right now there were major alarm bells going off in his head. He’d just called you darling. It wan’t even something he’d thought about doing, it just happened. That, coupled with the fact he cared how you were feeling, had him panicking. His plan to leave after a week was already out the window, but leaving at all was becoming harder to fathom by the day.

“It’s ok,” you replied, wiping a few errant tears off your cheeks. “It was a little while ago. I’m alright now. Really.”

Neither of you said anything for a moment as he awkwardly pat your shoulder, not really certain of the correct way to comfort someone. He wanted to say something else, but he wasn’t sure what.

“I think I had a brother!” he shouted, giving in to his desire to confide in you, but his web of lies making it impossible to tell the whole truth.

“We have to put that ad in the paper then. So he can find you.”

Little did you know how awful that situation would be for everyone involved. Still, it meant a lot that you cared, especially when you’d just been saddened at the memory of your own brother.

“Maybe, but I do not seem to think we had a very good relationship.”

“All the more reason then. You never know how long you have, so you should try to make amends.”

“Perhaps.”

You lapsed into silence again, not really sure where to go from there. By now, the sun had been down for a while and a chill was settling in the air. Loki noticed you shiver and shrugged off his hoodie.

“Here,” he embarrassedly mumbled, holding it out to you.

“Oh, no. I couldn’t,” you refused. “You’ll be cold then.”

“Nonsense,” he insisted, “I will be perfectly fine.”

You reluctantly agreed and pulled it on. Though it had only been in his possession for a short time, his scent had already claimed the soft fabric. He acted like his attention was averted elsewhere, but was actually watching you out of the corner of his eye. You didn’t notice his gaze on you as you took a gentle sniff, trying to take as much of it in as possible. Sandalwood, leather and something otherworldly that you just couldn’t name, other than to call it heaven. He turned his head ever so slightly and you started sheepishly picking at your nails, hoping he hadn’t caught you. He expected to be appalled by the notion, but just found himself confused. Why would you enjoy something that was so distinctly him? Then he remembered you didn’t know the truth. That’s why he had to get out as soon as possible before he, or anyone else, got hurt.

“We should probably head back before it gets too late,” you said after a bit.

“I agree,” was all he replied.

As you walked away from the creek, he tried to leave the new feelings bubbling in him by the water, but they followed him all the way back to the house, and into his dreams that night.

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shinydelirium · 3 years ago

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MLQC Season 2 Chapter 5 (Kiro) Part 1 [Hunter Game] & [The Game Starts Now] Translation [CN]

***SPOILERS*** THIS POST CONTAINS HEAVY SPOILERS FOR CONTENT NOT YET RELEASED ON EN SERVER!!! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!***

Here’s Part 1 translation for MLQC Season 2 Chapter 5 featuring Kiro.

Enjoy~

-Spoilers below the cut-

[Hunter Game]

The endless red traffic light became a little blurred in the drizzling rain, and I leaned on the steering wheel for a long time.

Since I left the hospital and returned home a few days ago, I have been searching for information about the man in black and the man with dark gray eyes through internal channels.

Five days later, there is still no positive results.

Including that mysterious hunter game, whether it is through B.S. or other gray channels, there has been no news about it.

In a modern society where information is infinitely open, the existence of that man and this game seem to be like a ghost in the fragments of memory.

But I am convinced that they are real. If I couldn’t find it, it must mean that they hid it in such a way that it can’t be explained for the time being.

The red light began to flash and I slowly stepped on the accelerator.

In the face of unknown enemies, I must make adequate preparations for emergencies.

Anna: MC, morning.

MC: Morning, Anna.

I greeted Anna and walked into the office. As soon as I sat down, I saw an invitation letter covered with dark lines lying quietly on the desktop.

I froze for a moment and poked my head out of the office.

MC: Has anyone entered my office?

Minor: I stayed here all night and didn’t see anyone go in.

Willow: Are you sleepwalking?

Minor: I have been working diligently! I’ll have you know that my eyes are rounder than a light bulb!

I ignored their continuous babbling, frowned and went back to the office, staring at the mysterious invitation letter carefully.

MC: What is this again? I must be losing my mind.***T/N: Took some liberties with this***

Suddenly someone knocked on the door. I temporarily pushed the invitation letter under a folder and responded.

Anna: Are you busy?

MC: Go ahead.

Anna: I’m here to tell you about the release of the previous Evol short film.

Anna: It’s almost as you expected. Although people are still at the peak of anxiety, it does play a positive role.

Anna: Public opinion on the Internet has gradually shifted to the direction of rational thinking and discussion, and the image of the inverted Smile Film and Television Company has also been slightly improved.

MC: That’s great….

Anna: However, for safety reasons, I think the company should be more cautious in handling Kiro’s itinerary.

MC: Don’t worry, I’ll pay attention.

After Anna left, I took out the invitation letter. I carefully observed that there was nothing suspicious around the envelope and slowly opened it.

“Dear Miss MC, you are welcomed to join this hunter game that never stops singing.”

“You don’t have to know the location, content, or anything about the game.”

“You are the game itself.”

MC: “Hunter Game”?!

I checked the text repeatedly and my fingers became cold.

This cannot be a coincidence. Is there any omission due to the investigation in the past few days?

I inadvertently gripped the delicate letter until it wrinkled. If this is not some sick joke, then it is not so much an invitation but an arrogant and conceited provocation.

The sudden ringing of a phone pierced my ears and made me tremble.

I squeezed my palms and froze for four to five seconds before slowly picking up the phone.

On the screen, the words “Kiro” were awaited me quietly.

Kiro: Boss?

The familiar voice came from the other side of the phone and made me slowly relax.

MC: It’s me.

Kiro: Is something wrong? Your voice doesn’t sound right.

MC:….I’m fine! Just thinking about things.

Kiro: Such as?

MC: Such as….what are you going to do next time.

MC: You have a good nesting ground of ideas! ***T/N: Took some liberties with this line***

Kiro: Wait for me to show you the mushrooms I planted these days!

Kiro: This one on top of my head is new!

Imagining the mushroom growing on Kiro’s head, I couldn’t help laughing.

Kiro: I wrote a song at home these past few days and I will send it to you when the demo is ready.

MC: In that case, I’m looking forward to it.

Kiro: When my ban is lifted in a few days, I must have a big meal!

Kiro: Do you have anything in particular you want to eat?

MC: If you’re not afraid of snitching on me to Savin, I choose hot pot.

Kiro let out a little laugh on the other end of the phone. I can already imagine how absolutely loyal this hot pot fan is.

Kiro: By the way, did you receive anything special recently?

My heart thudded. I looked down at the invitation letter in my hand and touched my mouth.

MC: Kiro, have you.....ever heard of a hunter game?

*something breaks*

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, the sound of glass shattering came to my ears.

Kiro: How would you know about this?!

MC: ….I received an invitation letter today. It should be considered the “special thing” you just asked about.

His voice became extremely fast, but suddenly turned sporadic. The sound of static gradually covered Kiro’s words.

MC: What are you saying? I can’t hear you clearly!

I heard a restless and strange, low frequency sound from my right and I stiffly casted my eyes on the wall.

A silver arc stretched along the wall, making an oval that was exactly the right size for a person to pass through.

I suddenly found that I have lost my strength to move, and my head felt dizzy. In my blurred vision, a man seemed to come out from the other end of the wall.

In the last second before losing consciousness, I struggled to grasp his hand and saw a pair of dark gray eyes and a slate symbol full of thorns.

[The Game Starts Now]

….So cold.

The cold woke me.

When I opened my eyes, I noticed that most of my body was immersed in water.

The frigid river water made my whole body very stiff. If I had slept for even a few more hours, I might have frozen to death here.

I struggled to get up and knelt on the bank to look around.

Dark clouds occupy the entire sky and I am in, what looks like, an endless dense forest . Rain is falling lightly.

As I slowly approached the big tree by the waterside, some cold, hard object gingerly brushed my neck.

I stretched out my hand and realized that a metal collar was around my neck.

MC: What is this….

As if responding to my question, the metal collar suddenly glowed. Before my eyes, a weird projection screen appeared.

A thorny “8” symbol appeared in the center of the screen display. The beginning and the end of the symbol didn’t seem right but from certain angles, they seem to overlap.

It looked never-ending.

Electronic voice: Dear players, welcome to the game arena of the first level of the ninth area of the Hunter Game.

Electronic voice: It is 6:07:19 in the afternoon. You can confirm the latest time at any moment by saying “Current Time.”

Some brisk male voice sounded from the metal collar. Following his introduction, a miniature map appeared on the projection screen with dozens of red dots.

Amongst them, there is a red dot flashing faintly, and its location is just by the river.

Electronic voice: The metal collar is equipped with a GPS positioning system. The flashing red dot is where you are. You can get map information at any time through the command “Open map.”

Electronic voice: The metal collar will record the points you earned, and the rewards gained will also be communicated he--

*something blows up*

An explosion interrupted his words, and faint black smoke rose slowly, diagonally in front of me. Before long, it disappeared into the rain.

Electronic voice: Hunter No. 3 died, his points were cleared.

Electronic voice: Out.

MC: What happened? What is he saying?

My heart was beating fast, and cold sweat was slightly oozing from my back.

Electronic voice: I hope everyone can listen to the introduction before taking any action.

Electronic voice: If the metal collar is damaged by external force, it will automatically detonate, so please don’t attempt it lightly.

Electronic voice: Here, any consequences of non-compliance with the regulations will be reinforced by you.

Electronic voice: The top 3 players can advance to the next level of game play and get the first round of game rewards at the same time.

Electronic voice: If you fail to advance, there is a chance to leave safely or to challenge again.

Electronic voice: But if you are unfortunately “eliminated” in the game….

Electronic voice: You will disappear from this world.

Electronic voice: We express our sincere welcome to your arrival and wish you victory in the game.

The brisk voice stopped and the bright blue casting screen closed.

My fingers were shaking. I kept taking deep breaths, pulling at my stiff fingertips again and again.

I touched my thigh and found that the anesthesia gun and knife hidden on one side were still there.

In the last second before I lost consciousness, I saw the man with the dark gray eyes, a playful smile on his lips.

This person was not only related to the illegal drugs, but also brought me into this game. He also didn’t seem to shy away from appearing in front of me.

MC: What a conceited person.

Although it was unexpected, I have the opportunity to get acquainted with this hunter game that lives in illusion.

I knew I was unable to remove the metal collar, so I didn’t try to destroy it, Instead, I dragged my heavy body and walked into the depths of the forest.

The most important thing now is to find a safe place, take a good rest and organize the information that was given.

On the previously displayed map, there are a few red dots that are very close to me.

Are they the other participants?

I only hesitated for a moment, then took another step.

In the broadcast just now, that person didn’t say how to earn points but….

My pace is getting faster and faster, recalling the picture of Lu Kang running with scars on his body.

The electronic voice said that the player was out, and my scalp began to turn numb.

*gunshot*

A bullet swiftly grazed the side of my shoe. I lost my balance, and I instantly fell to the ground.

But I didn’t have any time to hesitate. As I fell, I immediately rolled back to a trunk on the right.

MC: Cough…!!

I immediately covered my mouth with my hand, and couldn’t help but feel nauseous and wanted to retch.

??: Open map.

As a middle-aged man’s hoarse voice spoke, a bright blue light flashed from the lower left corner of my peripheral vision, which was quite obvious in the dark forest.

The heavy footsteps slowly approached where I was, and I gritted my teeth and tried to keep myself quiet.

At the same time, I took out my knife and quietly cut a small piece of clothing.

I gently inserted the piece of cloth into the gap in the trunk, making the illusion that I was still staying in place. And in the next instant, he threw a knife sharply towards the light-emitting place.

??: Shit!! ***T/N: I’m sure this is a curse word from the original CN text XD***

As the bright blue light disappeared, I quickly rolled to the other side.

*multiple gunshots*

A continuous line of gunfire rained down upon the place where I just hiding. The harsh bullets ripped through the air, and I hugged my head and ducked behind another nearby tree.

The shooting finally ended. Perhaps the man ran out of ammunition. The terrible smell of burning trees hung in the air.

The man seemed to be worried that the screen light would give away his position in advance. In order to confirm the result of shooting me down, he didn’t open the map again and walked over.

My left hand tightly wraps around my right hand to keep it from shaking too much.

I know that there is only one chance.

I stealthily grabbed my anesthesia gun, waiting for the sole opportunity.

A man who appeared to be in his forties showed up in my field of vision. He was wearing a vest with a bag on his back. He held the submachine gun on his shoulder as if he was holding a winning ticket.

Seeing the open space littered with only bullet marks, the man was clearly taken aback. When he turned around, he saw me hiding in the shadows and holding a gun.

I didn’t hesitate. The narcotic bullet hit the man’s arm instantly. He held his arm in horror, and ran while pointing the cold gun at me.

It’s a pity that he didn’t have a chance to pull the trigger. In the next second, he fell backward and collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.

Electronic voice: Hunter No. 29 attacked successfully, scored 5 points.

I was panting, trying to stand up, but found that I couldn’t move at all. I beat my thighs repeatedly, gritted my teeth and stood up.

The medicine in this anesthesia gun would bring down even an elephant within 10 seconds.

At this time, I am extremely grateful to this arrogant messenger, and thank him for leaving me a small chance of survival.

I quickly retrieved my thrown knife and checked to see that there were still bullets in the man’s submachine gun. It was a little heavy but I picked it up and ran deep into the forest without hesitation.

MC: Show location.

The screen only appeared for a moment, and then I turned it off. Fortunately, there are no other red dots nearby.

The sky is getting darker, and the screen’s light can reveal my position earlier than the electronic map.

I found a particularly huge leaf. After thinking about it, I got under the leaf and heaved violently.

The abrasions caused by the tumbling just now started to hurt. The damp weather and soaked clothes made me cold, and my stomach began to ache.

I smiled bitterly and looked into the sky through the gaps in the leaves. This hunter game is more terrifying and dangerous than I thought.

There was movement along the ground and an inexplicable feeling made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Someone is close.

-End of Part 1-

-Continue to Part 2-

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ecclais-fouoras · 4 years ago

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Sometimes moving on is good

Chapter 3&4

The two of you met often for drinks and chatting, while you exchanged a few messages.

You : Hey😝✌️ what is up ? I haven't heard from you today, is everything ok? Btw i finished your recipe but the cake 🍰 was not looking good😭🤣

Diane : hi, sorry i was busy with work. what happened with the cake? Oh i know you must have overcooked it, i used to do that all the time at first. What does btw mean? And why are there little faces on my phone ?

You :🤣oh honey...those are smileys you use that to had emotions to texts. AND Btw means by the way, everybody knows that diane.

Diane: haha ! Well I don't, anyways I finally finished the book you handed me last time.

You: OMG ALREADY??? IN 3 DAYS ! did you at least like it?

Diane: i did especially because of Jude’s past. Oh, and then Jude’s present, because sometimes life just keeps knocking people down, even when they’ve already suffered more than anyone ever should.

You: yes ohh it was so sad. I almost shead a tear. Which does not happen often !

Especially when reading... But I'm glad you liked it.😘

Diane: well i did the writing was really good, and the plot was interesting, what do you mean especially when you read ?

You: well... I always have trouble connecting to a book, especially when I have to read it, AND WHEN IT'S LONNNG🤣

In all seriousness I just have a hard time reading for as long as I can remember.

Diane: oh...why is that??

You: well I was diagnosed with An Oral and Written Language Learning Disability with impairment in reading and a specific reading comprehension deficit years ago. So basically my brain don't wORK.

Diane: i apologise that was intrusive of me

You: oh no don't worry I'm fine with talking about it, it's not that big of a deal, it doesn't stop me from messing up your cake🤭😭.

Diane: 😂 you'll do better next time don't worry. Do you know what are the causes ? You don't have to answer. It's just, well medicine interests me a lot.

You: apparently an abnormal cortical development, that occurs before or during the sixth month of fetal brain development, may have Abnormal cell formation known as ectopias, and more rarely, vascular micro-malformations, and microgyrus.

It's all big words but yeah those are the latest studies about dyslexia sais.

Diane: oh okay, i never thought it was actually physical, it's good to know

you: me neither until I searched it ! Even if I had it🤣. Sorry i gotta go I'm gonna be late for work !

Diane : sure, have fun! well Don't have fun...you know what I mean

Goodbye y/n.

When you got back from work you directly went on your phone hoping that diane sent you a message just so you'd have an excuse to talk to her. You had just seen her a few days before but somehow you still missed her, and little did you know she was missing you too.

After a few weeks you grew closer, and she invited you over for lunch or brunch, but tonight, you were going out. Together. You had asked her on a date a few days before.

"Hi Diane ? Yes it's me I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me on Friday ?...mmm...yes well I know a great place next to the cinema... Totally we can go out to the movies and then diner...what do you want to see ? Okay, cool see you then."

Yes, you were neighbors, you could've asked her in person, but you didn't want to be rejected face to face, it seamed easier to do on the phone.

And tonight was the night, the movie didn't start until a few hours, but you had already started getting ready. You picked up a nice outfit, Classy but casual, and put on just a little make up.

On the other side of the road diane was also starting to prepare, she was -not gonna lie- overall a bit anxious, why did you ask her out? Was it a date ? No it couldn't be, you'd never think of her like this. She was lucky to call you her friend, maybe you didn't even think of her as a friend ? God I'm so silly i got carried away, she probably doesn't even like me back. She was completely overwhelmed with thoughts, her breathing was shallow and she could not get in the right headspace as she put on her outfit.

She didn't notice that it was almost time, and that you were going to show up anytime to pick her up.

She offered to drive but you said you'd like too since you worked from home and didn't drive your car out often.

next thing she knows, her doorbell rings and as she goes down the stairs you hear her say "coming !" in a soft voice.

"I'm so sorry I barely even finished getting ready... Here come in I just have to find my shoes and I'll be right there." She looked so beautiful in her bordeaux dress that you didn't register her words.

"...o.. okay.." you manage to say while eyeing her up and down. Even if she didn't seem to know, she was beyond beautiful and you were going to make sure she did.

"You look.." you couldn't finish you sentence before she started rambling and letting all of her anxieties taking over her speach.

-" what too much, oh no i should have never put on that, sorry i thought it was cute but I'm too old for this and ugl...

She didn't have time to finish you just cut her off;

-"NO ! No i ment you look beautiful like this"

You couldn't help but feel attracted to her right now, but you put it aside, she didn't like women obviously?

-"Oh...wait really ?" You could feel the shakiness in her tone

"Yes...of course you look cute, and the dress is amazing on you. Don't even worry about it you are a very beautiful women diane."

You said in a firm voice that made her knees go weak.

"Well we should get going sweetie, do you have your shoes?"

"Yes..let's go" she closed the door blushing widely as you opened up the door to your car.

You bowed as you said "Milady" in a formal tone

She giggled softly and it was the most precious sound in the universe.

The car drive went by in a comfortable silence as just the soft music and a bit of humming could be heard.

You invited her to the movies, she offered the popcorn and choose your seats.

It wasn't necessarily a scary movie, but when things got a little tense, you could see her clench the armrest, so you scooted over and offered her your shoulder so she could hold on to you. After a bit of esitaton she accepted your embrace and the two of you cuddled together while the movie played. She gasped and then laughed at herself a few times.

When the credits started to roll none of you wanted to move, but you broke the silence and told her;

"As much as I'd like to stay here and cuddle you... I think the dude standing there with the bucket needs us to leave... Also the reservation is in ten minutes."

She sighed softly in defeat, gathered her bag and started to get up.

She rose too quickly and felt dizzy as her legs started to buckle. But you cought her hips before she could fall.

"It's okay...I got you", you said softly in her ear.

"Are you good? Can you walk" you asked as you still held her hips firmly. Which send a shiver down her spine, and a tingle down further to the both of you.

"Yeah.. I'm good thank you I just got up too fast".

You both went to the restaurant, the waiter took your orders and you both started to chat about anything and everything, the movies, life, cake, and even your delicious pastries.

"I was NOT scared !?"

-"YES you totally were ! you clang on to me the whole time I heard you whimper at Thé screen everytime there was something scary on."

-"sorry about that..."

-"why are you apologizing ? If it had bothered me i would have told you so..."

-"oh..okay, but I wasn't scared, just sometimes the movie was making me anxious ! I mean like that part in the stairs...brr..gave me chills."

-"alright alright fine..you weren't scared...I'll give it to you.. just because your cute"

She nearly choked at your comment and became as red as your wine.

"It's okay you don't have to be shy with me."

-"Do you really think I'm cute?"

-"Yeah, already told you you were cute today; and well not just tonight"

-"thank you y/n"

"Anytime diane, you are beautiful i want you to know that"

She didn't want to cry in front of you but you saw the tear she was desperately trying to hide run down her cheek, and got worried.

"Oh diane...are you okay ? I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable... please look at me" you moved closer to wipe the tears off of her face, and gently stroked her cheek.

"I'm fine y/n, just it's been a long time since anybody called me beautiful"

-"Well that's a shame then, and I'll make sure you hear it a lot more."

"You don't have to do that... I don't need to hear it"

-"You do. And you should be hearing it, i don't know why it stopped but I'll make sure it doesn't ever again"

She sobbed at your words again

"Oh No...sweet girl don't cry.. please... you're okay diane, I'm here always, I'm your friend"

She calmed down a bit, and felt butterflies in her stomach at what you said.

-"You are? You mean you actually want to be ?"

"OF course silly, i wouldn't have invited you to diner if I didn't at least like you diane."

Just after that sentence left your mouth the waiter arrived to pick up your plates, you breathed out 'thank you' as he left.

"You know, I don't understand why you didn't think I liked you, at leaaaast a little ?"

You joked as you took a sip of your glass.

"Well.. I've been alone for so long now...I don't know...i thought you were just hanging out with me because you didn't have a choice...".

You were saddened by her words

"Diane..I... if I had known you felt that way I would have said something a long time ago ! I don't want you to think for a second that i am here out of pity or because I got nothing better to do. I'm here cause I wanted to have a nice evening out with you."

You said as you put your hand on top of hers, when she didn't draw back you started to gently stroke it.

"Would you two like some dessert ?"

You pulled away to take the menu form the waitress.

"Do you want some dessert diane? They have apple pie, and tiramisu?"

-"i don't know...I'm not that hungry for both but i don't want to choose."

-"we can share you know"

-"huh? What do you mean"

-"well, i take the apple pie, you take the tiramisu, and we split"

-"are you sure? I wouldn't want to bother y..."

You cut her off before she could go any further.

"Yes I'm sure diane"

"..o..okay then"

"Are YOU sure??" You asked in a funny tone

She giggled and nodded.

You asked the waiter for both and shared when they arrived. After fighting a bit over who would pay you told diane that you had asked her out and therefore you should pay, "and if you want to pay so bad... you'll pay next time."

Both of you were full, you had spent an incredible night, it was dark but you offered diane a quick walk around the park, and she agreed. The two of you made your way back to the car after laughing your asses of and getting even closer than before.

You drove her back to your...her house. And before she entered her home you softly said;

"Well diane, i had an amazing night, we have to do that again sometime."

-"yes we do, i had so much fun too"

-"And I ment everything i said tonight,.."

For a few moments you just looked at each other, your gaze met her lips and she thought about how sweet they would taste before thinking 'who am i kidding she'll never kiss me, get those thoughts out of your head diane'

Before you could process what was happening, both of your bodies grew closer and your eyes shifted between both of your lips you kissed her, softly. it was a calm and quiet kiss. You broke off for air and looked into her eyes. You caressed her cheeks and put your hand on the small of her back before kissing her again, she moaned inside your lips and you took the chance to put your tongue in her mouth. Her hands flew to your neck and she kissed you back.

After a few minutes of making out you pulled away, you didn't really want to break the moment but you asked

"Diane... it's late i should go back home..."

She looked a hurt and a bit sad while she let you go.

"No don't.. I don't regret kissing you Diane don't worry. I just want to take this slow"

"Oh alright I thought you didn't... nevermind. Go home y/n, it's getting cold out here" she looked down at her hands and

"..you don't regret it don't you?"

"No i enjoyed it" she said blushing slightly.

"Good... I'll see you tomorrow then... Good night diane"

you kissed her sweetly again before leaving and you both smiled like teenagers who just had their first date.

-"Sweet dreams y/n"

#diane sherman x reader #diane sherman #sarah paulson fanfiction

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weekendwarriorblog · 4 years ago

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The Weekend Warrior 5/7/21: WRATH OF MAN, HERE TODAY, THE UNTHINKABLE, MONSTER, THE WATER MAN and More

It’s a new month, and I guess going by previous years pre-COVID, this weekend would normally be the start of summer. This year, we’re instead getting a summer with a lot of movies that would normally be dumped into April or February or some other uneventful month. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t or won’t be any good movies, but really, there’s nothing that feels like a summer movie until A Quiet Place Part II and Disney’s Cruella open on Memorial Day weekend.

There’s been lots of great developments, though, including the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn reopening this Friday and then in a few short weeks, theaters may be allowed to be open with no capacity rules although social distancing and masks will probably still be in place. Believe me, it’s been a confusing week as the city that got used to being on the backburner when it comes to reopenings, especially with movie theaters, is now dealing with arguing politicians competing to see who could throw open the then most doors fastest. It’s actually pretty embarrassing.

That aside, this week’s The Weekend Warrior column is brought to you by the new album “Coral Island” from Liverpool band The Coral, which I’ve decided to listen to on loop until I finish this column, because it’s taking me so long to get through it. (Eventually, I switched to Teenage Fanclub’s “Endless Arcade,” since I hadn’t had a chance to listen to it yet…. And to an old standby, Royal Blood, with their own excellent new album, “Typhoons.” At least the record business seems to know it’s the summer!)

Before we get to this week’s new movies, a couple tidbits. First of all, I’m thrilled that my friends Larissa Lam and Baldwin Chiu’s documentary FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH can finally be seen by the entire world, or at least the United States. It debuted on PBS World Channel on Tuesday night as part of the “America ReFramed” series, but for the entire month of May until June 3, you can watch it On Demand HERE, and that is huge! (There will be other ways to see it that you can read about here.)

This is an amazing MUST-SEE doc that looks into the little-known Chinese communities that took root in Mississippi in the early 20th Century and how they became such a huge part of that area with their markets, also bonding with the African-American communities that were similarly dealing with racism from the typically white post-Civil War South. It’s not just a history lesson, and it’s an incredibly moving story about a family trying to find its roots in the most unexpected places. There was a good reason why the couple’s short “Finding Cleveland” won the Oxford Film Festival while I was on the jury that year, and Far East Deep South similarly won an award there last year after its World Premiere at Cinequest was almost scuppered by COVID. It’s amazing how much more relevant and important this film has become since I first saw it last year, since both Asians and African-Americans are dealing with serious racial issues, and this movie shows that more than anything, they should be working to boost each other rather than fighting. Do check it out On Demand this month if you get a chance!

Another musician making movies is Mr. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. I mentioned his documentary WHAT DRIVES US last week, but I actually only got to watch it on Thursday, and like his previous film Studio City and HBO mini-series, Sonic Highways, it’s a fantastic look at the music biz, this time through a variety of artists who began their careers by piling into vans and driving around the country. That is, except Lars Ulrich from Metallica, who mentions that the band was never so small or indie that they didn’t have a bus. But Grohl has used his vast connections to bring in a lot of great musicians including The Edge from U2, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more, making this a very entertaining movie both for fans of the various bands but also live music fans in general. I gotta admit that as much as I loved What Drives Us, it did bring me down a bit since it’s been almost 14 months since I’ve seen any live music, and I really miss it. This is now streaming on The Coda Collection, which you can subscribe to through Amazon Prime Video.

Guy Ritchie is back with his latest movie, WRATH OF MAN (Miramax/MGM), which reunites him with Jason Statham for the first time since 2007’s Revolver, I believe. Statham plays the enigmatic Paul “H” Hill who works at cash truck company Fortico, responsible for moving hundreds of million dollars around Los Angeles each week. Fortico has recently been hit by a lethal robbery, and H’s team soon learn that there’s a lot more to their new coworker, who happens to be looking for revenge against the man who murdered his son.

(Unfortunately, reviews for the movie are embargoed until Thursday at 6pm, so I can’t tell you whether it’s any good or not. Until Thursday night. Sorry!)

But I will talk about the movie’s box office prospects, because why not? Ritchie’s last movie, The Gentlemen, opened in January 2020, during the “before times,” with $10.6 million, but that was more of a classic Ritchie ensemble crime-comedy. Wrath of Man is more of the type of movie Statham has been making over the past few years, a cross between a revenge thriller and a heist flick. In fact, Statham has done a pretty good job creating his own brand through a variety of action-thrillers as well as a number of franchises including “The Transporter” movies, “The Expendables,” and eventually joining the “Fast and the Furious” franchise as Deckard Shaw with Furious 7 in 2017. Statham then went off to make Hobbs and Shaw with Dwayne Johnson, which didn’t do bad with $174 million. Before that, Statham starred in The Meg, a summer shark attack movie that grossed $145 million. Statham going back to help his old mate i.e. the director that gave Statham his start is pretty huge.

But as I said earlier, those were all in the “before times” and with the box office the way it is, it’s hard to imagine that the exciting reunion of Statham and Ritchie can open with more than $10 million but maybe closer to $8 million, because MGM/UA just doesn’t have the marketing clout of a Warner Bros. or Universal. Even so, that should be enough to be #1 this weekend as both Mortal Kombat and Demon Slayer continue to fall away. Unfortunately, if the movie *is* any good -- and I can’t tell you one way or another -- then by the time reviews hit, people will already have other plans for the weekend than to go see the movie. So yeah, that’s pretty dumb on the part of MGM, huh?

UPDATE: MGM is putting the movie into 2,876 theaters and maybe I'm being overly optimistic, because, as you'll read below, the movie IS pretty good and reviews have remained positive with the American reviews rolling in last night, still at 70% Fresh at this writing. Maybe that'll help the movie do a little better, maybe as much as $9 million, although I'll probably owe MGM an apology if it cracks $10 million, and I don't think it will.

Mini-Review: If you’ve seen the trailer for Wrath of Man, you might go into Guy Ritchie’s latest thinking you know what to expect, because it’s sure being sold as another typical Jason Statham revenge thriller. Don’t be fooled by the marketing, the movie really is Ritchie’s chance to make his own version of Heat, an L.A. heist movie that owes as much to Rashomon as another movie being released this week.

Wrath of Man begins with the heist of an armored truck that turns deadly with the wanton murder of a couple guards. From there, you might think we know where things are going when Statham’s “H” company whose truck was hit, and on his first day, he stops a similar heist by killing the truck’s attackers. H is immediately the hero of the company, although he still has quite a few suspicious coworkers and the feeling is quite mutual. Ritchie’s film then slips into the second episodic chapter which goes back five months to that initial heist where we learn that Statham’s son was killed by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I don’t want to go too much deeper into how the movie and story play out, because like The Gentlemen and some of Ritchie’s more intricate films, there’s a lot that purposefully isn’t made very apparent at the beginning. To many, this movie will be seen as even more macho than most of Ritchie's films, to the point where even the only woman guard, Dana, being just as macho as the men. As the movie begins, there’s a lot of joke-cracking and crotch-grabbing, all while Statham’s character silently observes and only acts when necessary.

The film’s shift to more of a classic Ritchie ensemble does slowly take place, but by the third chapter, it shifts to the group perpetrating the cash truck heists with an “inside person,” taking the movie to yet another place that makes it more obvious that this is Ritchie’s attempt at delving into the L.A. heist genre that other filmmakers have done so well.

Oddly, Statham doesn’t have too many lines, acting almost like a Terminator in his determination to right wrongs, but as always, Ritchie puts together a fantastic ensemble cast including a number of great American character actors who we rarely get to see in such great roles. I was particularly impressed with Jeffrey Donovan, who has appeared in a number of otherwise forgettable crime films this past year. The same can be said for Holt McCallany as H’s truck driver “Bullet,” but Ritchie also cast the likes of Josh Hartnett and Scott Eastwood in smaller yet still significant supporting roles, all of whom become more interesting as you start figuring out who all the players are.

Like I said, the movie is fairly macho and the few women play very small roles, but it’s how things are set-up in the first few acts to then change course and build to an absolutely amazing third act that will undoubtedly bear comparisons to Heat. And yet Wrath of Man (which is actually based on a little-seen French crime-thriller) does branch away from some of Ritchie’s standards, first of all by being far darker and even more violent with any of the wisecracking humor that pervades a lot of Ritchie’s work to counterbalance such violence disappearing once the flashbacks begin. It’s all punctuated by a fantastically tense score by Christopher Benstead, which seems a bit much at first but eventually settles into the perfect pace and tone for the action.

Despite disappearing for a good chunk of the movie, Statham is still great, basically killing everyone as his characters are wont to do, but watching how all of the different ideas come together leads to such a satisfying conclusion that one hopes those who might be put off, thinking they know where it's going due to the somewhat pathetic and obvious marketing will give it a chance to see how Ritchie has changed gears as effortlessly as he did with Aladdin a few years back.

Rating: 7.5/10

After even a longer time since he directed a movie, Billy Crystal once again takes the helm for HERE TODAY (Sony/Stage6), a movie in which he plays comedy writer Charlie Burns, whose chance encounter with Tiffany Haddish’s lounge singer, Emma Payge, leads to an unlikely friendship, as he struggles with early stage dementia.

I’ve known about this movie for over a year now, and I was pretty excited to finally get to see it, since I was such a fan of the other movies Crystal has directed, 1992’s Mr. Saturday Night and 1995’s Forget Paris, and it’s just amazing to me that he hasn’t directed a movie since.

At first, it seems like it’s the type of meet-cute we’ve seen so much in Crystal’s past filmography, but his pairing with Haddish isn’t something that might work on paper, but in fact, their comic styles mesh so perfectly together that it’s amazing that no one thought of putting them together before.

Crystal wrote the film with comic Alan Zweibel, who adapted it from his own short story “The Prize,” which refers to Haddish’s character winning Charlie in an auction for a lunch. Actually, her ex won the lunch, and she decided to use it because… free lunch! It’s a pretty simple set-up but one that allows the filmmakers to explore some of the odder things that happen in life.

Much of the movie’s humor plays upon the differences between the two characters, and how unexpected their friendship is. I can totally relate, because I have a lot of good long-time friends who most people might never expect us to be friends, but Crystal, Zweibel and Haddish pick up on that and create a movie that’s very funny but has enough other characters around the duo toa allow their characters to show how they’re just really nice people. We see that with how Charlie takes a young writer at his late night show under his wing or how Emma livens up the bat mitzvah of Charlie’s granddaughter. Oh yeah, and Haddish sings. She actually has a number of great performances in the movie, and seriously, anyone who watches this movie is gonna wanna see a smart filmmaker put Haddish in a musical immediately.

The film also acts as a truly touching tribute to Crystal’s friend, the late Robin WIlliams, who was diagnosed with the exact same type of dementia after his suicide death, and knowing that fact, makes the film even more poignant. More importantly, it doesn’t use Charlie’s condition for laughs, and for that alone, I feel like this is ten times better than that overrated Oscar winner The Father.

Here Today’s biggest problems come in the third act when it feels like the movie is starting to over-extend its welcome, even going into somewhat expected places, but it recovers from that rough third act to land a really nice ending. Crystal has always proven himself to be a really strong mainstream filmmaker (ala Rob Reiner and others) who makes crowd-pleasing movies, and it’s so nice seeing him going behind the camera for a movie that’s obviously very personal but also highly relatable.

As far as box office, I certainly have high hopes that Crystal still has an older audience of fans who might want to see him on the big screen again. I’m just not sure if this will be in more than 1,000 theaters, and though I’ve seen quite a bit of marketing, I just haven’t seen Crystal or Haddish do nearly as much in terms of getting out there that would be necessary to reach an audience that might want to venture out into movie theaters to see the movie vs. waiting until it’s on cable/streaming. There’s also Tiffany Haddish’ fanbase, and there could be some benefit for the movie coming out the same week as her new CBS show “Kids Say the Darndest Things.”

I’d love to be optimistic with this making $4 to 5 million but it’s probably more likely to be closer to $3 million especially with capacity limits still in place for most theaters and the audience generally being older.

UPDATE: Maybe I was a little too optimistic, because I enjoyed the movie so much and it will probably be closer to $1 or 1.5 million since other reviews aren't as great.

Next, we have two movies finally being released many years after their festival premieres…

The Swedish apocalyptic thriller THE UNTHINKABLE (Magnet), directed by Victor Danell, is finally being released after playing genre fests in 2018 and 2019. It stars Christoffer Nordenrot as Alex, a young piano virtuoso who ran away from home due to his abusive father Bjorn (Jesper Barkselius). Years later, he returns home for his mother’s funeral after she’s killed in a terrorist attack on Sweden. At the same, there’s a virus that’s erasing people’s memories, but Alex is still in love with Anna (Lisa Henni), the girl he had a crush on when he left, and the three of them will have to help each other face all the horrible things hitting their home at the same time.

As I was watching this movie, a lot of it felt eerily familiar to me, but I couldn’t figure out why. The more I watched it, the more I realized that I actually HAD seen the movie before. Sure enough, I saw this movie over two years ago at the “What the Fest?!” in New York two years ago, and I honestly don’t remember loving it. Still, I decided to give it a fresh look, hoping to get more out of it on second viewing.

Some of the same things bothered me on this second viewing, because it’s really hard to figure out exactly what is going on and whether the horrific events are natural, man-made or a combination of both. For some time, we get so mired into Alex’s lame relationship with Anna, and when he returns home, his conspiracy theory-driven father is busy protecting a bunker that’s being invaded by foreign military troops he thinks are Russians. We cut between these two disparate scenarios while sometimes returning to the capital of Sweden and throwing in a few big set pieces. It’s so disjointed that you feel like you’re watching a lot of random unrelated events, maybe a bit like last week’s About Endlessness -- maybe it’s a Swedish thing?

There are aspects of The Unthinkable that are quite commendable, particularly those action moments and how the mystery about what is happening develops as the film goes along. Eventually, the film does find a more consistent pace, and things start becoming a little clearer, which makes the final act better than much of what we’ve watched earlier. Even so, it’s still quite annoying how long it takes to figure out what’s going on, even on a second viewing, and for most people, that may already be far too frustrating to get through it.

Hitting Netflix on Friday over THREE years after it premiered at Sundance is music video director Anthony Mandler’s directorial debut, MONSTER (Netflix), based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers. It stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Waves) as Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old film student put in jail, accused of murder in a bodega robbery. His defense lawyer (Jennifer Ehle) is trying to help him be released, but he’s fighting against the odds of a judicial system that sees him as a “monster” because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I have to be honest that I did go to see this at Sundance the week it premiered, and for whatever reason, I just wasn’t feeling it, so I only really caught about twenty minutes of it. Watching it now with more time and a little less weary than I usually am towards the end of Sundance, I was able to appreciate Monster more for what it is. On the surface, it’s just about Steve’s case and how what really happened unfolds before our eyes and we learn more about those around Steve and how their influence may have pulled a smart and studious young man into the criminal world that now has him in prison with much more violent life-long criminals.

We already knew that Harrison was a great actor, but Monster shows us that he was already on his way to greatness with this movie that for whatever reason got buried even as it dealt with issues that have been in the headlines almost every day since this debuted.

Mandler takes an interesting approach, both non-linear and also with blatant nods to Kurosawa’s Rashomon, which is even cited by Steve’s teacher, played by Tim Blake Nelson. Jeffrey Wright and Jennifer Hudson are decent as Steve’s parents, but they’re generally smaller and non-showy roles compared to the moments between Harrison and Ehle. Much of the film takes place in the courtroom with flashbacks showing what happened through the viewpoint of whomever is on the stand, which eventually includes Steve himself.

The way Mandler handles the material may lean more on the artiness rather than something more mainstream -- Michael B. Jordan’s Just Mercy comes to mind -- but it’s just as powerful in showing how someone like Steve can be othered by society into being a criminal. Sure, there have been other handlings of this sort of material that I thought were better films, but if you know anyone who has ever had dealings with the “justice” system and know how unfair and horrible it can be even to the innocent, then Monster will certainly strike a chord.

Also hitting Netflix this week is the new series based on Mark Millar and Frank Quitely‘s comic books, JUPITER’S LEGACY (Netflix), another kind of twist on the superhero genre ala Amazon Prime Video’s series based on Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson’s The Boys. I love the comics, and I can’t wait to finally get around to seeing Netflix’s first adaptation of a Millarworld property.

David Oyelowo makes his directorial debut with THE WATER MAN (RLJEfilms), a movie about a young boy named Gunner Boon (Lonnie Chavis), whose mother (Rosario Dawson) is battling leukemia. In an effort to cure her, Guner goes off on a journey along with a teenage girl named Jo (Amiah Miller) to find the mythical Water Man, who can provide them with a magic token that might save Gunner’s mother’s life.

I’ve interviewed Oyelowo a few times before, and I really like him a lot, so I had really high hopes for him as a director since I feel he’s just a terrific actor. Unfortunately, the material here is just not strong enough that I think even a far more experienced filmmaker could make something out of it.

Set in PIne Hills, we meet Gunner, a bright kid who loves drawing comic books, but he has trouble connecting with his father (Oyelowo), so when he has an idea that might help his sick mother, he goes off with a head-strong teen named Jo, in search of the Water Man, a summertime adventure permeated by a lot of very bad low-budget visual effects.

Honestly, I’m not even sure where to begin with where The Water Man falters, because Oyelowo has such a great cast, including Alfred Molina and Maria Bello in tiny parts. The story is a problem, as is the writing, which is just so bland and dull, that there’s really nothing in Oyelowo’s direction or any of the performances that really can salvage it. Neither of the child actors have much charisma or personality, and even Dawson’s performance, which would normally be a showstopper is repeatedly lessened by the constant cutting back to the kids. (And as someone who beat leukemia myself, I’m never a fan when cancer is depicted in movies as a death sentence rather than just another hurdle in life that needs to be overcome.)

Oyelowo himself may be one of his generation’s best actors, but he brings so little to the role of Gunner’s father, maybe to not take away from his younger star, but it hurts that he doesn’t do more to create a stronger conflict by making the character more horrible to drive Gunner away. The actual Water Man doesn’t improve things when he finally shows up, essentially talking like a pirate but not even remotely paying off.

Honestly, The Water Man seems like such a misguided venture -- Exec. Produced by Oprah, no less -- and it might have been totally forgettable if the characters didn’t keep saying the title of the movie every five minutes.

Hitting theaters Friday after a festival run is Tran Quoc Bao’s action-comedy THE PAPER TIGERS (WELL GO USA), starring ALain Uy, Ron Yuan and Mikel Shannon Jenkins as martial artists once known as “the three tigers but now middle-aged men must set aside old grudges and dad duties to avenge the murder of their teacher. I’ve had a screener of this since last summer when it played at Fantasia Festival in Montreal, and I just never got around to watching it, but if I’m able to squeeze it in before the weekend, check back here for my review.

Streaming on Shudder this Friday is Ryan Kruger's South African comedy-thriller FRIED BARRY (Shudder), starring Gary Green as Barry, a violent street junkie who is abducted by aliens who take over his body in order to… well, actually… they do a lot of drugs, have a lot of sex and other craziness. It’s a pretty strange and bizarre movie that reminds me a little of movies like a lower-fi Under the Skin or Beyond the Black Rainbow, and much of it is driven by the insane and unique performance by Green and the odd characters he encounters that I think will find its fans for sure, but it will definitely be for a very select audience of genre festival fans, as this is by no means a mainstream genre film.

Speaking of which, another movie out this week which I wasn’t allowed to see in advance is Gia Coppola’s MAINSTREAM (IFC Films), starring Maya Hawke as a young woman seeking internet stardom by making YouTube videos with a charismatic stranger, played by Andrew Garfield, until “the dark side of viral celebrity threatens to ruin them both.” Yup, it’s one of THOSE movies. It also stars Nat Wolff, Jason Schwartzman and Johnny Knoxville, but I haven’t heard anything good about it, and I’m not sure my curiosity is piqued enough to spend any of my own personal money to check it out.

Hitting Amazon on Friday is the doc THE BOY FROM MEDELLIN (Amazon) from Matthew Heineman (City of Ghosts, Cartel Land), a portrait of musical superstar J. Balvin, as he prepares for a massive sold-out stadium show in his hometown of Medellin, Colombia, which is hindered by the growing civil unrest in the area.

Lots of other movies this week, but a few that i just wasn’t able to get to this week, including:

ABOVE SUSPICION (Lionsgate) INITIATION (Saban Films) ENFANT TERRIBLE (Dark Star Pictures) QUEEN MARIE (Samuel Goldwyn Films) SILO (Oscilloscope) CITIZEN PENN (Discovery+)

That’s it for this week. Next week, Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson star in SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW (Lionsgate) and Angelina Jolie returns for the thriller THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD (New Line) and Timur Bekmambetov’s thriller, PROFILE (Focus Features). That’s right. This will be the first weekend in over a year where we’ll have three or maybe even four new wide releases.

#TheWeekendWarrior #Movies #Reviews #WrathOfMan #HereToday #Monster #The Unthinkable #TheWaterMan

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maladaptive-ninja-returns · 5 years ago

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The Siren & The Healer (1)

Natasha Romanoff arc

Chapter 1: The Mission

Platonic Natasha x fem!Reader, Loki x fem!Reader (soulmates?)

Theme: With cracks between the most powerful superheroes of the earth, Natasha Romanoff does not find rest when she is assigned on a mission to find the missing pieces of a puzzling power that once nearly got into the hands- rather, tentacles- of Hydra. In order to unearth the pieces, she must dig through her own past and make a decision that might decide the fate of the earth in the coming wars.

Series: Will contain violence, death, destruction, softness, fluff, smut, friendship, and whatnot

Chapter warnings: sometimes dreams are hotter than your realities.

A/N: This was written a few years ago with an OC in mind so reader has a name but it is a reader insert.

Word Count: Toooo tired. Must sleep. But weird dreams. What to do.

MASTERLIST in bio, love

Time: 1600 hrs

Location: WAKANDA

“Two years. I go away for two years and these pea-brained men break the one thing I have worked so hard on.”

Even pissed, Fury looked the cutest to Natasha. She could tell he was trying his best to seem enraged but this assassin had known the ex-director of SHIELD long enough to tell when he was feeling something and depicting something else.

“You may have brought them together with one goal, Nick, but the boyband had different agendas.”

“And what did the only woman of the boyband want?”

She could feel the softness in his rigid voice. It only went soft when he knew. This time, just like every other, he wasn’t wrong. “The woman wanted those pea-brained men to work it out. But now she’s gone solo for a while. She said screw them. She wants some me-time.”

Fury chuckled before taking Natasha into his embrace. The hug was partly because he had missed his favourite spy and mostly because he realised amongst all that had gone down in the past few weeks, she had been the only one searching for a neutral ground.

"Hmm," Natasha hummed as she finally broke away from the warm hug and looked at Fury, "staying in with Goose is really making you mushy, Nick."

Fury scoffed and Natasha chuckled. "Please! You are the only one who gets the hugs. Don't tell Barton that. Or Tony for that matter. I don't know how he'll use it against me. And I don't wanna know."

This was nice. Natasha was already feeling better now that she was away from the constant conflict and brooding- not to mention discreet pining- of her two boys. Wakanda was welcoming. The air was like no other. Wrapped up in the warmth of the African sun, bringing with it the coolness of the forests along with the local beats, cuddling with nature while prospering faster than the rest of the earth in every term. Tony would love this, she thought to herself, though he would be more curious about the genius mind behind all of this and readily try to recruit them.

Children scuttled about, playing hop-scotch and hide-and-seek, their innocent and restraint-free cackles filling the air with their mellifluous everyday fun. The local shops had quite a variety of accessories lined up for everyone. Bags and baskets made with intricate handiwork, decorated with beads, stones and soft clay tones of art depicting the everyday Wakandan life. Many even had the Dora Milage adorning them. Masterpieces, truly. But that was not all. Young girls and boys had their own sections in the square to display their latest science projects. A girl had made a miniature help-bot, taking requests for the books you wanted in the library and fetching it for you- here, from the topmost shelf of the lone bookstand that housed all the books this young one had read at least twice. Another group had designed gloves for the elderly and the ones suffering from Parkinson's to help them with their daily routines. The gloves had the ability to absorb vibrations and motions and convert it into electricity to help the person charge their device by holding them.

"Ndingayifumana le?" Natasha asked the little girl sitting with her mother at one of the sections selling their hand-made backpacks, pointing at the one in all black adorned with stones and metals around the purple outline of a panther.

The girl smiled at her and nodded. Her wavy brown hair bounced as she skipped to the back of the shop to get a jute bag to wrap the backpack in before running back to the front. "Ndiza kwabelana ngemfihlo kunye nawe," the little one mentioned, gesturing from her hands to lean closer to her. Natasha did exactly what the girl asked her to, genuinely interested in what secrets she was about to spill. "Inepokotho efihliweyo apho unokuzifihla imipu yakho," she whispered, showing her customer the secret compartment.

Natasha 'ooh'ed in excitement.

"Nala," her mother gave her a stern stare but her voice was soft for her child.

"Ngu-Black Widow, umama," the little one stressed towards her mother, making Natasha feel a mild jolt in her heart.

"Does everyone here know who I am?" she had to ask Fury, who merely shrugged.

"Well, you got them their favourite broken white boy, so..." he flailed his hands.

Taking the backpack carefully packed and put inside the jute bag, Natasha and Fury walked towards the road less travelled- towards Shuri’s laboratory.

The lab itself was a brilliant piece of work. Natasha could really feel the waves from every wall and equipment declaring they were Shuri's and they would always be Shuri's- loyal to the bone. And yet the air was the most welcoming to her- along with the scarce number of people greeting her with a smile on her way. But the brilliant young scientist was nowhere to be seen for now.

"So, what is it Fury?" she finally had to ask, "you drag me away from my me-time at Bora Bora to this spectacular lab."

Nick's smile was warm.

Uh-oh, Natasha thought, that meant trouble.

He gestured her towards the private office. "You and I both know you could have not survived Bora Bora for even three days, woman."

She chuckled. Well, he wasn't wrong.

“I have some work for you. Actually, it was Nakia who brought in the work. So, you can thank her or curse her.”

Fury waved his hand over the table to produce a holograph of virtual files in front of him. He opened up the first one and produced newspaper clippings.

"Remember the faint 2012 rumours among the people in the black market about an ancient weapon that had been 'discovered' somewhere in India that could, and I quote, ‘wipe out an entire state, even an entire country if used...correctly’. Hydra had been looking for the weapon at that time. They even discovered the location of the weapon but for some reason lost contact with their team the very day they were supposed to move it."

Natasha looked at the screen, an uneasy emotion clouding her face. Fury saw her hand move to the side of her stomach.

“The entire team vanished.” She said, looking at the images of recorded conversations of Hydra. “How many were there?”

Fury did not take his eyes off of her.

“Five. Three assassins, one translator, one strategist.”

Natasha was confused now.

“Assassins to handle a weapon?”

Fury nodded, “Look at the conversations from a week before the D-day. They talked about some sort of organisation or a coven. The weapon was either fortified or was being exploited by them. Either case required them to move it effortlessly, no matter the lives it cost.”

Natasha moved through the files for more information.

“How huge is this weapon?”

“We don’t know. Here, play the last conversation recorded by the Hydra HQ with their extraction team.”

Natasha clocked on the audio file. The entire room was filled with the crackling noise from the conversation.

Voice 1: HQ! Are you there? *heavy breathing*

Voice 2: Yes, this is HQ.

Voice 1: Is the line secure?

Voice 2: The line is secure. Confirm your status.

Voice 1: We have discovered the whereabouts of the weapon. There has been a casualty from the enemy’s side. The Director needs to hear this.

Voice 2: Where is the weapon?

Voice 1: Call the Director to the phone right now. We are on our way to the extraction location. *in the background* Carlos, Thomas, ready your weapons.

Voice 3: Boss, something’s wrong. The bomb, it’s gone off.

Voice 1: What?! Son of a bitch! Carlos! You were supposed to wait for the signal.

Voice 3: It’s not my fault! I didn’t do anything. Something’s wrong.

Voice 2: What is happening?

Voice 1: Why is there no signal? We lost the tracker. Boys! What is going on?

Voice 4: I cannot reach Alyn. He’s not responding.

*sound of tire screeching to a halt*

Voice 1: What the hell? Is that Alyn on the ground?

Voice 4: Oh no! Oh God no! Look!

Voice 2: What is going on there? Confirm your status!

Voice 1: It’s coming for us. Get out of here. It’s coming for us.

Voice 3: There’s something in the shadows. Goddammit, it’s huge!

*a screeching sound and periodic hum followed by screams *

*the line goes blank*

“What was that?”

“My guess right now is as good as yours. I have people working on the frequencies to see if they match some alien source that we have met before. Apart from that, is this,” Fury concluded as he handed her a file.

Natasha took the file. Zelda-Kane 12-16, it read.

“Nakia was hunting down a group involved in human trafficking across the African continent and south Asia when she came across someone who was quite closely related to the mission.”

She turned the pages to look at the detailed work and findings of the Wakandan spy and came across a photograph. Her fingers stopped.

"Yuri Chekhov- the director of the failed mission to bring the weapon under the tentacles of Hydra. He has been involved with the group for some time now."

Fury knew he didn't even have to say his name for Natasha remembered that face all too well.

And suddenly she was back in the Red Room with a much younger version of Yuri standing in front of him, covered in blood all over, his dead grey eyes looking straight through her. Trying to find that little girl with red eyes inside Natalia. The girl who could bring chaos without blinking.

Fury's voice brought her back.

"He was operating through India for the past five years. No dirty dealings, no weapons exchange on the black market, nothing- almost like this guy was trying to stay under the radar."

"And he's made a move recently. That's why I'm here. That’s why you are here." Natasha was calm as ever.

That was what Fury admired the most about her. He knew this was going to hit home but he also knew Natasha Romanoff was not the one to let it get in the way.

"He was sighted in Vienna last week. So was Hansel Meldrake- the one who's behind all alien remnants market in Europe. He is the one involved with the notorious group that supplies his scientists with test subjects. All of them victims of human trafficking”

Fury closed the hologram and passed a flash drive to Natasha.

She looked out the window and breathed. It was evening already.

The city outside was lit up like it was celebrating tonight. He saw her admiring the view before realizing it wasn’t the city she was looking at.

“Now if you want I can contact—”

"No. You're not contacting anyone," her composed voice declared in one go, "I can handle this alone."

He knew it would come to this. He had always known.

"Natasha. I won't have your back on this one. We won't be meeting any time soon. The only reason this file is in your hands is because of Nakia. Are you sure you want to take these guys down alone? At least Cli-"

"Don’t." Natasha closed the file in a flash and he knew he couldn't do anything now.

And she was back in the Red Room standing in front of Yuri, looking into his dead, grey eyes.

Rusalka, they said in the most innocent yet dead voice.

"It's time I faced some demons alone."

He felt the softness of those hands again. So tender. So warm. Yet, they are not his mothers. Mother had a different way about her touch. These? These are different. Too soft. Too welcoming. Why? No pair of hands has been as welcoming to him. Ever. All of them had a motive. All of them wanted something.

"What do you want?" he shouted at them.

They didn't say anything. Only kept caressing him. Gentle strokes on his forehead, absorbing away all heaviness form his head, combing his hair, letting some manner of light enter them at every nuzzle of those fingers.

Too comfortable for his own good.

"Who are you?"

The same voice came back again.

It was the same feminine voice he heard when he was on the verge of standing by the gates of Hel.

Oh, Valhalla, who is this utterly blasphemous ray of sunshine snatching me from the claws of death?

"Hey, weasel! Wake Up!"

Loki's eyes shot open, his lungs gasping for air as he shot himself to the other end of the ship to get away from whatever menace had been hovering over him.

"Holy shit!" the raccoon spoke without hesitation- even a tad bit of excessive boldness one might say- while Loki looked around at the faces judging him from head to toe.

"Damn! Is he homeless?" He heard the man in the weird leather jacket speak.

"I am Groot," said the little Groot.

"No, we adopted Mantis because she is one of the good guys. We still have to figure this one out," the racoon spoke again.

And that's when he saw her.

And she saw him, her immaculate green face feeling a mild shock before scrunching up her face.

"You!" Loki and Gamora said in unison, reverberating with the vibes to take out their daggers to slit the other's throat any second now.

And before anyone else could even speculate about that reaction, daggers were out, fingers were curled into fists, teeth snarling at each other and legs covering the distance between them to just snap at each other right at that moment.

"Would you two stop or do I have to knock you out like last time?"

The figure casually leaning by the freezer announced before gulping down the beer bottle in her hand. She sounded tired. Maybe she was.

"Nebula," Loki greeted the other sister with less contempt as compared to the other. "You and your sister better have a good reason to kidnap me."

Both scoffed and chuckled while the other man raised his brow with no understanding of what exactly was going on.

"Um, excuse me-"

"Is he who calls himself the Star-Lord?" Loki thought out loud, looking at Peter standing there, words that were interrupted now dissolving in his mouth.

"Well, yes I am Star-" he was on the edge of blushing, really hard, when Loki interrupted him again.

"Is this the man you chose to love, Gamora?!" he nearly guffawed, leaving Quill shocked; hurt too when Loki clutched his stomach because the laughter hurt him too much.

"I hate this guy," Peter muttered. Rocket simply shrugged. "I mean that was my reaction too, Quill. Can't really blame him, ya know."

"What the hell are you even doing here, Loki Odinson." Gamora made sure she stressed the last word as much as she could, to pinch Loki right where it hurt.

Loki looked at her with a questioning gaze before shrugging. "I don't know."

"I mean, one moment I was dying and the next-" he gestured at the entirety surrounding him.

"Hm, what sort of demon is keeping you from dying and returning to hell?" Nebula quirked, biting into the blue strawberries kept specially for her on the ship.

Loki sighed, reforming every little detail inside his dream, every little touch, every minute excitement that his nerves felt. He could feel every bit of sensation all over again. Well, that was the thing- he could feel everything and yet, for some reason, he could not remember that face.

"Whoever that was," he was thinking out loud without even noticing, "was one heck of a demon."

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its-jwang2017 · 5 years ago

Text

Part 3: Why Jinyoung is a Genius but Not Very Smart

Ok! I've been gone for a bit... and I am very sorry... but now I am back! With a brand new chapter!

As I said before, Jinyoung really wanted the focus to be on him this time... so we'll get his view for this chapter, then we'll jump to a week later to see what they've done with the place. I had to split this up into two chapters because I wanted to show y'all just how ill-fitted our villains are to the #evillife , just like we see in Megamind.

Also, we get to see Yugyeom in this chapter!!! Guess who he has a crush on...

As always, let me know about any spelling mistakes or general got7 errors. I'm doing my best to remember nicknames and stuff, but I'm not the greatest, being an international aghase... anyways, read and enjoy!

Jinyoung jogged up the steps of the sports complex, digging through his backpack in search of his fake Loyola University ID. Normally, Jinyoung would never be caught dead in a gym filled with other gross, sweaty, hormone amped students (he pays extra to go to a high quality private gym, thank you very much), but today was a special day. He had overheard a conversation between two of his younger classmates, Bambam and Yugyeom, while he happened to be meandering by their open dorm room. From what he could gather, Yugyeom had asked Bambam to make him a fake Loyola University Student ID, which was suspicious for three reasons: Yugyeom attended JYP International Prep, he did not know anybody that attended that university (Jinyoung had to look up his Facebook page for the details... it was interesting to say the least), and he wasn't even old enough to attend university. Now, Jinyoung considered himself a smart person, a genius even. He had noticed that Yugyeom had been acting oddly the past couple of weeks, to say the least. Always spaced out and acting extra happy for seemingly no reason, almost like he was under some sort of spell. So, being a concerned hyung that he was (stop laughing, Jaebum!), he made it his mission to figure out the new puzzle that was being laid out before his eyes. It wasn't because he was bored or because he had nothing to do.... No, not at all.

Let it be said that Jinyoung did nothing by halves. When he was committed to something, he was fully committed. So after he heard that interesting conversation between the troublesome duo, he waited outside the room, very casually, until Bambam walked out. He then (not so casually) convinced Bambam to spill the tea by placing some vague, very subtle threats in every other sentence.

What he found out from that conversation was that he threatened Bambam too much in Korean class since the younger seemed to be unaffected by his menacing glare, the hand holding him against the wall, and the venomous words attacking him. At least the younger was still scared enough to make Jinyoung a fake ID so he could figure it out himself.

So here Jinyoung was, digging through his backback for the well-made badge that would get him through the doors (and 85% closer to solving the mystery) when he saw it. There, in his backpack, was the faint blue glow of his latest invention buried underneath stacks of essays, folders, pens, wallet and other school supplies. Jinyoung wasn't normally a "messy" person, but that morning he was crunched for time and had to shove anything he could grab from his desk into his bag in order to both surprise Yugyeom and then later meet Bambam and Youngjae for a study session. Looking back, Jinyoung could now see that he should have turned right on his heels and headed straight back to the "lair" in order to return the potentially catastrophic item to a safe, destruction proof location. The gun wasn't even an official prototype yet, just something that Jinyoung created during another one of his sleepless nights.

Instead, he acted like a character in a B-rated horror movie and shrugged off the nagging voice in his gut that screamed, "turn around!". The opportunity to figure out the puzzle and thereby be granted an exclusive pass to tease Yugyeom about it was just too great of a prize for him to pass up! So, ignoring the faint ominous glow of the contraption in his backpack, Jinyoung continued his path towards his younger friend and finally grabbed the Loyola ID out of his bag. As he scanned the card and walked through the doors, he immediately spotted the hunched over figure of his classmate sitting at the receptionist desk, playing on his phone and practically ignoring everyone around him.

Shaking his head and smirking to himself, Jinyoung conscientiously made his footsteps heavier and made his way over to the younger. When he finally made it up to the circular desk, his footsteps not breaking the other's concentration in the slightest, Jinyoung leaned over the barricade in order to see what was taking up so much of Yugyeom's attention. When he saw what appeared to be a livestream of a fencing match on the tiny home screen, Jinyoung rolled his eyes and let out a huff of disappointment. Seriously, Jackson must be some sort of super... It's the only way that he could have so many guys incapable of making proper choices whenever he's involved.

Smacking his hand hard against the table near Yugyeom, Jinyoung let himself have a couple moments of laughter as Yugyeom dropped his phone and let out an audible shriek, before smoothing his face back into a serious expression. He watched the younger scramble to reorient himself after the sudden shock to his system as he walked towards the other side of the desk and allowed himself into the receptionist space. "Seriously, Yugyeom-ah? I thought digging up dirt on you would have been so much more... enjoyable than this." drolled Jinyoung, his hand flippantly gesturing at Yugyeom.

"Jinyoung-hyung! I... what? How did you find me?!" Yugyeom whisper-shrieked, trying his best to scooch as far away from the older boy as his wheelie chair would allow, his phone laying forgotten on the floor.

Jinyoung idly poked around the various items of the tiny space, giving off an air of vague interest the entire time. "I bribed another student to tell me where you always scurry off to after school. And by bribed, I mean threatened. And by student, I mean Bambam. And by scurry off, I mean creepily follow after. Seriously, what is up with Jackson that everyone seems to be lovestruck whenever they spend more than four minutes with him? I don't understand. It seems as if only Youngjae and I are immune to his charms. Even his best friend, Matt or whatever, seem to be practically in love with the guy with the way they're always attached at the hip!" Jinyoung exclaimed with a dramatic flourish.

Yugyeom sank lower in his seat with every word, red blush creeping up onto his face as Jinyoung sat opposite of him, feeling more exposed than ever in front of the other. "Jinyoung-hyung, I don't know what you're talking about..."

Letting out a bark of laughter, Jinyoung leaned back against the desk and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Let me count the ways in which you, Kim Yugyeom, are a lying liar who has an unhealthy obsession with one Jackson Wang," Jinyoung dramatically exclaimed, ignoring the other's attempt to shush him and raised his pointer finger up in the air, "One! You were watching a livestream of his fencing performance and always keep up to date with his activities online. The video is still playing on your phone, by the way." Jinyoung said with a pointed look at Yugyeom's phone from which the fencing match could still be heard.Yugyeom practically dove out of his seat and snatched his phone from off the ground, his face as red as a tomato. Ignoring the other's pitiful attempts to get Jinyoung to stop talking, he continued, "Second! In Korean class, whenever you're partnered with Jackson, you turn into an ineloquent, stuttering mess. At first, I assumed it was either because of lack of sleep, that you were cursed by a witch, or that you reached a new level of prepubescent clumsiness due to your gangly, overgrown limbs. However, upon further review that I just made in the last eight seconds, it is glaringly obvious that you are head over heels for the fencer! Even though I am probably the smartest in that class, there is a chance that the other less-smart people have figured that out however improbable that may be. His best friend is probably suspicious of your intentions towards Jackson by now. It got even worse after Bambam's party a couple weeks ago, now that I think about it... Anyways, third-"

"Jinyoung-hyung, please stop tal-"

"THIRD!" Jinyoung shouted, slapping a hand over Yugyeom's mouth and ignoring the curious stares of the students around them. "Yugyeom-ah, you can't interrupt, I'm monologuing. Third, you practically insert yourself into any situation that involves helping Jackson even a little bit. I've seen you practically bodyslam Youngjae out of the way in order for you to be the one to offer Jackson a dumb pencil to replace the one he broke. I mean, that's a bit obsessive, don't you think. And I save the best for last!" Stepping back and removing his hand from Yugyeom's mouth, Jinyoung gestured to the entire facility that surrounded them, spinning around on his heels for dramatic effect. "You literally, somehow, scammed your way in to working a part time job at a college that you don't even attend! Probably because you knew that Jackson attends most of his fencing matches here and you wanted to be near him. I mean, you barely look legal, how did these people hire you when you look like you're 13? Bad managing, probably. Am I right or am I right, Yuggie?"

Slumping in defeat, Yugyeom covered his face with his hands, embarrassment preventing him from looking at Jinyoung in the eyes. "Oh my god, it sounds way too creepy when you say it like that!"

Jinyoung, feeling slightly proud of himself that he was able to embarrass his younger friend like this, decided to put the other out of his misery. "So, Yugyeom. Care to explain your stalker-like tendencies?"

A soft whine escaped from between Yugyeom's hands, the freshman sitting back into his chair and rubbing his face, eventually letting his hands fall to his sides and stared off into the ceiling, face still burning with embarrassment. "Hyung, there's nothing to say!"

"...."

"Jinyoung-hyung! I mean it!" "...."

"Stop looking at me like that!"

"...."

"ALRIGHT FINE!"

Jinyoung smiled triumphantly, the menacing glare vanishing off of his face. "Go on then, Gyeommie! Tell your hyung all about it!"

Yugyeom glared half-heartedly at his so-called 'caring' friend, wringing his hands together as he prepared to tell Jinyoung everything. "Ah... well... you see... Jackson and I... got....together... at Bambam's party?" Yugyeom mumbled, his words disconnected and quiet.

Jinyoung's whole body unwillingly jerked at the younger's statement, brain trying to process the new information. He had about twenty seconds to put his monologue together about Yugyeom's crush, that he had assumed was one-sided, but this new puzzle piece threw the whole picture off kilter. "Wait, so you two...?"

Yugyeom nodded his head, face somehow becoming even redder at the implication. "Yeah...it's just, I had a crush on him for a while and I was a little drunk and he was drunk but everything was consensual!" Yugyeum rushed out, hands fluttering around as he talked. "I don't think he realized who I really was until the... the morning after. And he asked if we could still be friends, he was so nice about the whole thing, and I said yes but I think... I think I really like him so I tried to... woo him as best I could! So I've been trying to show him that I could be a good... boyfriend to him and Bambam suggested I start working here so that I could see him more often outside of class but I never do and people always look at me strange, probably because I am pretty tall but look younger...Even when I see him, I have to hide because I also thought it was weird if he actually saw me working here but it was nice to see him outside of class! It's... been a stressful past couple of weeks, hyung!"

Jinyoung stared open-mouthed at Yugyeom, feeling a bit overwhelmed at the new situation he was presented with. Looks like JB has some competition.

Moving to kneel beside the distraught freshman, Jingyoung placed a hand on the other's knee, doing his best to try to comfort his friend. "Yugyeom-ah. This may not be my place to ask and you do not have to answer, but I would like to know because it would clear things up a bit for the both of us. Was Jackson....was he...you know... your first?"

Hands wringing together, Yugyeom looked down and away from Jinyoung, his head slowly nodding. Sighing, Jinyoung continued, "Yugyeom, does he know?'

Wet eyes stared straight at Jinyoung as the other shook his head.

Now, Jinyoung was not usually a very tactile person but he also wasn't completely heartless. He was the person who caused the metaphorical emotional dam inside the younger to break and spill over, so he thought he at least owed Yugyeom a bit. He took the other's hand in his and carefully wrapped one arm around Yugyeom's shoulders, making the other lean in to him. The two were moderately close in school, having shared some of the same classes and lived on the same floor with overlapping friend groups, but Jinyoung never felt as close to the other as he did in that moment. Ignoring the slight wetness building near his collarbone where Yugyeom buried his face into, Jinyoung started to slowly stroke the others back, hoping his movements would give the other some comfort. "Yugyeom, why didn't you say anything? I just thought I would come here to embarass you, not make you cry!"

Laughing wetly, Yugyeom shrugged his shoulders, leaning back out of Jinyoung's grip and wiping his face with his t-shirt. "I didn't think we were at that stage in our friendship, Jinyoung-hyung. I should have asked you, though, because Bammie gives the worst advice!"

The two boys burst into laughter, surprising a couple students as they walked by. Stifling their laughter, Jinyoung stood up and stretched out his legs and arms. "Don't worry, Yugyeom-ah. You're not the only freshman who's fallen in love with their elder after having a one night stand. Especially when their elder looks and acts like Jackson Wang. Jackson and I may not be the closest, but after working with him in class, I can say that he's intelligent, funny, creative, athletic, and talented. However, those same words of praise do not stretch into his ability to perceive others emotions. You should tell him. I'm sure you'll either get a boyfriend out of this. An older, hotter boyfriend at that," Jinyoung winked at Yugyeom, avoiding his half-hearted swat at Jinyoung's stomach, "Or you'll get the nicest let down in history and you'll be able to tell yourself that, at the very least, you tried!"

As if a switch had been flicked on inside of Yugyeom's head, Jinyoung watched as the embarrassment faded away and determination replaced the look on the younger's face. Yugyeom pushed his chair back and stood up at full high, causing Jinyoung to look up instead of down. Curse Yugyeom's freakishly tall genes!

Yugyeom stuck out his hand which Jinyoung reluctantly took. "Jinyoung-hyung! Thank you for your words! I will do my best and try to ask out Jackson-hyung and make him see me as more than just a naive freshman! And if he says no, I swear I won't become a lovestruck teenager in an old Taylor Swift music video anymore!" As Yugyeom vigorously shook the older's hand, all Jinyoung could do was nod in agreement, smiling slightly at Yugyeom's enthusiasm. While his attention was still on Jinyoung, the eldest took the time to firmly grip the hand in his grasp and tug Yugyeom closer to him.

"So, Yugyeom, I've been dying to know... Did Jackson prefer to give or receive?"

Jinyoung laughed as his words got the desired effect, watching as Yugyeom quickly let go of his hand as if he had been burnt and scrambled away, stuttering out ineligible words all the while. "Yugyeom-ah, I was kidding! Don't be such a prude." Jinyoung said, ruffling Yugyeom's hair. "Besides, we both know he's more of a twunk than a hunk, am I right?"

Before Yugyeom could grab Jinyoung and strangle the other like he desperately wanted to do ever since the conversation started, Yugyeom noticed the other's stare was a bit too far to the right of his head. Quickly spinning around, Yugyeom's stomach dropped and his whole body froze. He would recognize that bright red hair anywhere and the person connected to it was quickly approaching up the steps to the facility now.

In a fluid motion, Yugyeom reached behind him and grabbed whatever piece of fabric his hand landed on. Ignoring Jinyoung's squawk of protest, Yugyeom roughly jerked the other forward towards the front end of the desk, letting go just as he ducked underneath in an effort to hide himself from plain view. "Jinyoung, it's Mark!"

"Mark, who?"

"Jackson's best friend!" Yugyeom whisper yelled at Jinyoung, listening for the familiar sound of the door opening. "He's literally in the same class as us and sits next to Jackson every day, how could you not- Aish, that's not important! He shouldn't see me here! He's probably here for the match now!"

Jinyoung looked down incredulously at the hiding figure. "So, you're saying you were watching a live stream of a match that you could have just... watched in real life?"

"Jinyoung! Now's not the time to berate me! I'm hiding!" At that moment, Yugyeom heard the doors get roughly pushed open. "Tell him it's down the hall to the right! He could be lost!"

As Yugyeom hid, Jinyoung did his best to look as professional and greetabl as possible. He was sure Mark wouldn't recognize him. Or he hoped, because that would definitely be embarrassing if the other recognized him when Jinyoung barely knew who he was. For whatever reason, they were never really paired up in any of the three classes they had together but only knew each other through the talks of the shared mutual friends they had. Clearing his throat, Jinyoung utilized his inner Yugyeom voice and called out to his noticeably stressed classmate, "Mark-hyung! You're so late! Jackson-hyung is almost done with his match!"

Jinyoung barely restrains himself from sending a judgmental look at the other as Mark just stares at him in shocked silence. A light punch to his leg spurs him to continue talking, his left hand pointing to Mark's right, "Down this hall, on your left! Maybe you'll see the last couple of seconds!"

Jinyoung watched as Mark ran away, sending a barely perceivable Thank you! Over his shoulder before disappearing down the hallway. He may not be the most perceptive person, but he is cute.. I'll give him that.

Jinyoung's pulled from his thoughts as he is roughly shoved aside, the space he once filled soon replaced by a grumbling Yugyeom. "The door isn't on his left when he goes down that hall, it's straight ahead!"

"Hey, you were the one who literally gave me a five second notice. If I knew I was going to play a receptionist today, I would have worn fancier clothing to complete the part!"

The oncoming fight was soon interrupted as Jinyoung's phone rang loudly, Shinee's 'Lucifer' playing loudly in the once quiet(ish) facility. Holding up one finger as if pausing their conversation, Jinyoung tugged out his phone from the inside his pocket and answered it in one fluid motion. "Hello, Park Jinyoung here."

"Jinyounggie, are you done torturing Yugyeom-ah now? We've got work to do."

At hearing the monotonous voice of his so-called best friend, Jinyoung starts slowly backing away from the confines of the circular receptionist desk. "Hyung! I was just leaving. You know me, I had to go all out on embarrassing our precious yugyeommie!" Jinyoung said, making kissy faces at Yugyeom, who returned it with an ugly face of his own. Sighing at the rejection of his aegyo, Jinyoung mouthed back exit? After being pointed in the right direction, Jinyoung resumed his conversation with his impatient roommate, walking quickly in the direction Yugyeom suggested. "I have the ray with me, we're all set. We've been planning this for days, don't worry!" Jinyoung exclaimed, making sure to avoid that his possession of the untested ray was completely planned.

"Jinyoung-ah, with you, I always have to worry. We don't even need the ray yet, why do you even-?"

"Jaebummie, don't you want to see the miraculous product built with my blood, sweat and tears??"

"I shouldn't have even asked... Now, the plan is set for tomorrow at Buckingham Fountain. There shouldn't be a lot of tourists in the early morning, so we should plan it for then. I think we should-"

Jinyoung pushed open the back door, only half-listening to Jaebum as he repeated the same plan that the two had been going over for the past five days. JB and Jinyoung had worked together for the past couple of years, after they found out about each other's powers when they were roommates during their first semester, so Jinyoung was used to the whole overprepared pre-battle spiel Jaebum would give the day before. He figured out that if he nodded his head and agreed with Jaebum every once in a while, the other would continue talking and Jinyoung could ignore the speech in favor of literally anything else.

He hummed along with whatever Jaebum was currently speaking, switching his phone to the other ear in order to tug his backpack off of his arm and around to his front. Digging through his backpack, Jinyoung looked for something to distract him. A book, a pencil to click, even the fidget spinner that he took from Yugyeom's desk earlier. With half of his mind focused on entertaining the droning one-sided conversation in his ear and the other half looking for a source of entertainment, he didn't notice that a runaway pen had slipped through the trigger of his sonic ray. It only took one accidental sweep of his hand against the pen to activate the blue ray. Before Jinyoung could even register the sound of the device triggering, he was jerked sideways onto the grass as the ray blasted one side of his backpack open and hit the wall that Jinyoung had walked beside seconds earlier.

The whole event happened in a matter of seconds and there was nothing Jinyoung could do to stop it as he watched a hole replace the spot that solid concrete once held. Belatedly, Jinyoung realized his phone had been thrown to the ground next to him, his screen completely shattered. Luckily he seemed to be unharmed, which could not be said for his half a backpack that he had left, as he sat up and watched the smoke rise. Surveying the scene, Jinyoung winced as he noticed a couple of passed out students who were located too close to the blast site. Otherwise, the scene was blessedly clear.

Hopefully they won't remember any of this...

He sat back on one arm as he ran his other hand through his now soot/dirt covered hair. "Jaebum is gonna be so mad at me when he sees this..."

Jinyoung froze as he heard familiar, boot covered footsteps approach from behind him. "Jaebum-HYUNG is actually furious at you, Jinyoung-ah."

Jinyoung whirled around just in time to catch the watch that was thrown directly at his chest. His eyes looked up to meet his best friends cold, unforgiving glare and he felt a tiny twinge of fear rise up in his gut. Darting his glance away from the other's face, Jinyoung noticed that Jaebum was already in full uniform, his suit already charged and ready.

"Jaebum-hyung, I can explain-"

"We'll talk later. Honestly, I sort of expected this. You're lucky I happened to be in the area. We'll do the plan today so suit up now and let's go inside. Red Dragon should be here any minute and we've wasted too many seconds."

Jinyoung could only nod as he quickly put the watch on his wrist, activating the handy device as soon as he could. Ten seconds later, Project J stood side-by-side with Dark Soul, both in full battle regalia with their helmets open and suits glowing a faint blue as Dark Soul's powers energized their suits. Project J quickly suppressed the orange schematics that popped up into his field of vision, instead focusing on "gripping" the both of them with his telekinetic abilities. As the two rose into the air, he briefly glanced at Jaebum before their helmets snapped into place. The glimpse of the 'angry chin' was all Jinyoung needed to see as they floated towards the still dust covered ruins of the gym. If things didn't go according to plan during this impromptu 85% pre-prepared battle, he would definitely be getting an earful later.

And.... well... you know what happens next. It did go according to plan. Sort of.

*Alright! Next chapter will be a week in the future (hopefully posted within the week). I've decided against the markson reunion. It just doesn't fit the general flow of the story, but maybe I'll do a dramatic one-shot later. I've written their reunion already, but I wasn't happy with the direction it would take the story in so I decided against publishing it in this work. So look out for another series, written by me, focusing on tidbits I've written that just don't fit in my story flow! Maybe I'll just post tidbits on tumblr, I haven't decided yet.

Also, Jinyoung's origin story has been written, so watch out for that!

Did it surprise you that Yugyeom had a crush on Jackson? Thoughts? Let me hear them!

Kudos, comments, and favorites are much appreciated!*

#jackson wang #jackbum #jackgyeom #jinyoung #jaebum #yugyeom #what went wrong

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bobbichoicesfeedback · 5 years ago

Text

Choices: Stories You Play, by Pixelberry Studios

Bloodbound (Spoilers up to Book 3 Chapter 6)

MC (Bobbi) x Lily

Again, this is a stand-alone response to the latest chapter. Now we’ve been un-alive for a month, I had feelings about how we’d adjust. This is pretty much where I think we’d go. Julia is a random name I gave to the woman who volunteers to feed you in chapter 1.

_______

Julia rubbed my back, comfortingly as the dry heaves she had got used to subsided. I curled up and rested my head in her lap while she did her shirt back up.

“It’s been a month,” I said, despondently, closing my eyes as she traced her fingers through my curly hair, “Why aren’t I over this yet?”

Julia didn’t say anything, although her gentle caresses became stronger. She had never blamed me for nearly losing control, when she gave me my first true meal since… I died. It was merciful that vampires don’t need to eat as often as humans do. The next time I started craving blood and went to the volunteer clinic, Jax in tow to keep an eye on me, in the basement of the Raines’ building, she had sought me out and offered her neck to me.

Just like the first time I’d fed, immediately afterwards I’d dropped to the floor, hacking and coughing. My stomach had convulsed as though I was going to vomit, but thankfully nothing came up. Despite maintaining control this time and only drinking as much as my body plainly needed, guilt and shame were the only things I could feel.

I’d fed maybe a dozen times since then. All but one had been with Julia. The other had been a young man who Julia insisted I… taste… just in case there was some unusual issue – can vampires be allergic to a particular type of blood?

Every time ended the same way. I felt sick, physically and mentally, every time.

“Sweetie,” Julia said, stroking my cheek, “Don’t expect too much. I’m here for you and I know that it’s not because of me that you’re feeling like this.”

I smiled vaguely. Julia was reclining on the old sofa in the apartment I’d used to share with Lily, and I was laying in the foetal position with my head on her lap. Over the past month, she’d become the person I was most comfortable confiding in. The others – the people who had become my family over the past year – had all been so overjoyed to see me back after my violent death that I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting them with the truth.

“Lily came to speak to me yesterday,” Julia said, in the tones of someone cradling a bombshell, “She wasn’t aggressive, but she was clearly a little annoyed with me.”

I frowned, knowing that there was no way I was getting away from the conversation this time, and sat up, rubbing my forehead wearily.

“I understand why you haven’t told them,” Julia said, putting her arm around my shoulder; I hugged her back, “Especially Lily. But they’re all starting to notice something is odd about you. Lily was subtly accusing me of trying to steal her girlfriend…”

“Her girlfriend?” I snorted, pouring a lot of disdain into the noise, “She’s always believed in open relationships anyway.”

“She said as much,” Julia whispered, still trying to keep me calm. The fact that she needed to fear me losing my temper felt as bad as the one time I’d caught a beam of sunlight, “But she pointed out that you and she haven’t been alone together since you Turned.”

“I’ve spent time with her and put up a show of being close,” I lied. I had tried to relax myself around her and accepted her shows of affection when we were in public, but I’d very carefully orchestrated things so that we never managed to get a moment alone. It was easiest when we were around Rheya, since the council had been disbanded. The First’s affect on all vampires – myself included, although I seemed not to be as enamoured as all my friends were – meant that Lily could be distracted from the obvious relationship problems I was hiding, “What am I supposed to do? Tell her that I hate her for turning me into a vampire. I did it to her first, and she did it because she loves me…”

“You don’t think keeping it a secret from her will hurt more?” Julia said, quite sensibly, finally letting me go and standing up. She was very pretty and every nerve in my hyper-sensitive vampire body wanted more. She saw my expression and smiled again.

“I’m sorry, Julia,” I winced as I stood, “I know – believe me, all too well – that one of the best things about volunteering to provide food for… one of us… is the affection.”

“I don’t need that, Bobbi,” she insisted, kissing me on the cheek and going to collect her coat, “I know you don’t want to give in to that and I know why. It’s fine. I’m just trying to help you deal with this.”

“You’re too good to me,” I replied, kissing her chastely on her soft, tasty lips. I managed to resist the temptation to extend my fangs again and walked her to the door, “Make sure you go and get someone else to make up for my deficiencies. I don’t want you to miss out on it…”

As I opened the door Lily yelped. She’d been stood on the far side, hand raised as though to knock. She was wearing a long trench coat and a curious expression. Knowing how well her… our senses worked, I suspected she’d caught at least the end of the conversation.

“Oh, Bobbi,” she said, unconvincingly trying to look casual, “I was passing and thought I’d see if you were awake. I didn’t know you had company over.”

She made as though to leave, but Julia pushed past her quickly and walked towards the lift.

“I was just going, Lily,” she said, looking pointedly at me over her shoulder, “Don’t worry about it.”

We stood there, either side of the threshold of the apartment we’d once both called home. The moment dragged on, each second more awkward than the last. Eventually, I relented and stepped back, nodding inside. Lily walked in, her usual confidence apparently gone, and stood in the middle of the corridor. I realised that she could see into my bedroom and shut both doors rapidly.

“You’ve only got a single bed, now?” she asked, as we walked through to the lounge, “What happened to your old one?”

“I couldn’t keep it out of morning sunlight easily,” I lied, “Adrien wasn’t able to get the UV filters on my windows in all the mess, so I got the single so I could stay out of the sun.”

“Oh… okay…” she looked at me uncertainly. Neither of us sat, and the moment was still painfully awkward, “It must be a little uncomfortable when your little snack stays overnight?”

I winced, still not used to Lily’s jokes from this perspective, and walked into the half-kitchen to disguise my discomfort.

“Would you like a drink?” I asked, trying to shift the mood.

“I had some in the volunteer basement before I came over,” she said, casually and suddenly falling silent as I slammed a bottle of wine on the counter, “Didn’t you just?”

“I meant wine, Lily!” I snapped, not turning to face her. She hadn’t moved, I could tell from the way air buffeted the bare skin of my shoulders, “Like we used to do, sit up with a bottle of wine and chat.”

“Okay,” her voice was hesitant, and she started walking towards the door, “Clearly we have a problem and you don’t want to talk about it…”

“I know you overheard Julia and me talking,” I said, taking a glass and accidentally shattering it in my grip. I growled at myself and gave up, storming back into the lounge and sitting on one of the single chairs, “How much did you hear?”

“Not much,” she admitted, knowing better than to lie about this. She sat in the sofa opposite me, her eyes running over my face in a mix of worry and curiosity, “Only you saying… you hadn’t… y’know. I was surprised. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I had been disappointed because I wanted to be your first time since Turning…”

She stopped instantly. I guess I couldn’t hide my facial expression when she mentioned it. After a pause, when it was clear I still wasn’t going to speak my mind, she continued the sentence.

“Yeah, your first time… I can’t believe you haven’t slept with anyone for the whole month?”

“How about you?” I asked, plastering on a smile even I didn’t believe, “Managed to talk Rheya into bed yet?”

Mentioning the Vampire Queen nearly had the effect I wanted. Lily’s eyes went hazy and she smiled as though in heaven.

“No,” she admitted, smirking shyly, “I’d love to, but I don’t think she’s up for it yet. And I didn’t… I mean…”

She fixed me with the powerful stare I’d fallen in love with six months ago, smiling but with a worried cast to her eyes, “I was waiting for you.”

“You don’t need to do that, Lil,” I said, looking away, embarrassed.

“I wanted to,” she said, earnestly. I sensed she wanted to close the gap between us, but the coffee table was making a subtle barrier, “I worried every time you slipped away. It was like you didn’t want to see me.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” I looked out of the window, mentally cursing the fact that yet another lie had been that Adrien hadn’t applied the UV filter to the glass yet. Sunrise wasn’t far off, “I’ve just been so busy helping out as the council was dissolved and getting New York back on its feet.”

“That excuse might have worked for a couple of weeks, sweetheart,” she said, an edge coming to her voice, “But the others have noticed it too. I thought you might be getting a thing for that girl – I confess, I was feeling jealous – but now I find out you haven’t slept with her? What about Kamilah? Jax or Adrien?”

I looked at her, suddenly feeling like we were back before either of us had ever heard of the Vampire Council. She grinned at my sarcastic expression.

“You’ve slept with some men, it might have happened,” she giggled, “You’ve only ever been mostly gay… Wait, are you seriously telling me that you’ve been a vampire for more than a month and you’re still an afterlife virgin?”

She looked incredulous and amused, openly laughing when my expression must have given the truth away instantly. She stood up and dropped her trench coat, revealing her almost-naked, lingerie-clad body to me. It was calculated to hit my libido like a sledgehammer. A black silk basque tightly hugged her ebony waist and a leather bra/thong combo accentuated her curves. I couldn’t stop my eyebrows and heart rate suddenly raising.

“I’d come over here because I finally wanted to get our relationship back on track,” she said, cocking a hip and beckoning me forward with a seductive finger, “I didn’t think that it would be such a big deal.”

“I’m sorry, Lil,” I said, turning my head away with difficulty, “I’m not in the mood, tonight.”

“You know that doesn’t work anymore?” she asked, tones of incredulity in her voice, “I can hear your heartbeat and I know you can hear mine…”

She wasn’t wrong; her pulse raced every time she looked in my direction. Once upon a time I would have found that flattering, but in that same ‘once upon a time’ I wouldn’t have been able to tell.

“So, what is the issue?” she asked, dropping back onto the sofa, but hooking one leg over the arm in an aggressively seductive pose, “I thought you might be having a thing with… her… but you’re not. I thought you might have been with one of the other gorgeous women we know, but you haven’t. I can’t work out what’s going on, Bobbi. I was terrified I had lost you, then it turned out I hadn’t but… I may as well have. What is wrong?”

“Every time I…” I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘feed’ or ‘drink’ out loud, it made things too real, “Every time I get hungry, Julia is there to help out. She doesn’t expect anything of me and she listens to me.”

“You’ve only fed on her?” Lily asked, still with undertones of incredulity, but clearly trying to ask casually, “You’re missing out. Everyone tastes different. Of course, no-one tastes as good as you do…”

“Every time I… do…” I felt my stomach heave at the memory, “I feel like I’m going to throw up. Not just subtly, I’m forced to the floor, dry-heaving and everything.”

“That’s odd…” Lily said, looking at me with wide eyes, “I’ve never had anything like that. It probably is just something incompatible between you and her-“

“It’s not just her,” I snapped. I was worried, we were getting dangerously close to me saying things I couldn’t take back, “I’ve tried someone else and the same thing happens. I’m sorry Lily, maybe you should head home.”

“Well, the sun’s coming up,” she said, defiantly, “so that would be difficult. You’re obviously hiding something, Bobbi. Please, tell me what’s wrong?”

“It’s guilt,” I snapped again, then threw a hand over my mouth. But despite my desire to bite back the word, I knew now I had to continue. Slowly I lowered my hand, “I feel guilty drinking blood. Even when it’s freely offered. I drink it and it’s the best flavour I’ve ever experienced-“

“It’s great, isn’t it?” Lily, failing to read the room, chimed in.

“But, immediately afterwards I feel guilt and shame at having to drink it,” I finished. I paused, waiting to see if Lily would pick up on the implications. She remained silent, but shifted so that she was sat in a more appropriate pose, “I don’t let myself enjoy it, or anything. Because I hate having to drink blood. I hate being a vampire. Every time I look at you, I can’t see anything except the woman who did this to me.”

I breathed heavily once or twice, holding my hand up to delay the obvious and justified response, until I could finish the train of thought.

“And that makes the guilt worse, Lily,” I continued, looking at her frowning, wounded expression, “Because I know I have no right to resent you for the choice you made. I made the choice for you, in this very room. You were forced to become a vampire because Gaius wanted to manipulate me, and I couldn’t live without you. Why should I fault you for doing the same thing, especially considering how we’d grown closer since?”

“You said you forgave me,” she said, her voice hollow, and her eyes averted. It was worryingly subdued.

“I was still in shock, I was panicking,” I admitted, glancing up as a ray of filtered sunlight brushed over my cheek, “I said what I thought you needed to hear. I hadn’t even thought about what I really felt yet. Then there was the chaos of New York, and then Rheya turned up…”

“Surely that made things better?” Lily’s voice did the familiar up-turn at the mention of the First’s name, “She seems to be able to fix everything…”

“I don’t like her,” I admitted, drawing a shocked, almost horrified gasp, “Oh, obviously when I’m around her, everything is perfect. But… it’s not right…”

“Well, you’re clearly losing your mind,” Lily said, only half joking, “She’s the goddess we need, Bobbi. Maybe if you open yourself up to her, you can accept your new place in the world?”

“You can see I lied, Lily?” I said, holding my hand up in the dawn’s light. “I got rid of the double bed about a week ago. It was the first night that Julia came to see me here instead of me going down to the volunteer basement.”

“I thought you said you didn’t sleep together?” Lily, now Rheya wasn’t the topic, shifted back to her slightly hurt, slightly worried tones.

“I’d made an appointment to meet her in the basement that night,” I continued, ignoring the interruption, “But I didn’t turn up. She checked in with Adrien, who gave her my address, and she came to see me here. She found me, hunched in the bedroom, covered in stab wounds. I’d shattered the bed and had been trying to stake myself. Turns out, it’s hard to do it yourself.

“She made me drink, the wounds healed, and I told her exactly why I’d been trying to kill myself,” I said, standing and walking towards the bedroom. Lily reached out to take my wrist, but my enhanced reflexes let me avoid her hand, “I bought the single bed, so that I wouldn’t be as tempted to sleep with someone. Before that, I’d tried to go out onto the roof at noon, but the pain stopped me before I could even burn.”

“Bobbi,” there was a catch in her voice that broke my heart to hear. I still cared for her, I knew I did, but as I’d said, I couldn’t look at her without resentment, “I agonised about Turning you. I didn’t know what you wanted, but I thought that you would welcome the opportunity. If anyone deserved a chance to live, it’s the woman who saved the city from Gaius. I thought you were okay with everything, everyone did.”

“I’m going to head to bed, Lily,” I said, in final tones, “You can stay as long as you need, but you should probably call Adrien. He can send a shielded limo to collect you.”

When I got to my bedroom door, I turned back. I was surprised to see her crying heavily, but maybe this band-aid needed to be torn off now.

“I don’t think we can trust Rheya,” I said, hesitantly, knowing the hero-worship I’d be intruding on, “But, if I’m wrong, I think you should go and be with her. She can give you what I can’t, any more.”

“Bobbi,” Lily fixed me with a pained look, “I held you in my arms while you were dying. I tried to tell you that I lo-“

“Don’t say it,” I interrupted, holding up my hand, “Please Lily, I don’t want to hurt you. But if you say those words to me now, any response I give would be as bad as sunlight…”

I closed the door behind me, threw open my bedroom curtains, dragged the bed into the sunlight, and fell into it. I silently cursed my heightened senses, hearing Lily weeping in the other room no matter how hard I tried to ignore it. Eventually she left. About an hour later my ‘phone rang constantly. First Jax was trying to call, then Adrien and Kamilah. They all tried two or three times before giving me peace. I just hoped that none of them would tell Rheya what had happened. I don’t think I could deal with the emotional manipulation I feared would happen if she tried to… fix… my problems. I sent a text message to Julia; telling her I’d confessed to Lily. I didn’t want to talk about it yet, but I’d let her know when we could.

Then I lay in the filtered sun, remembering what I’d lost. I wished I’d died on the end of that blade.

#choices #pixelberry #bloodbound3 #bloodbound #vampire #constructive criticism #honest feedback #visual novel

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nomimits7 · 6 years ago

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Mission Bangtan | 7

Title: MISSION BANGTAN pt7

Pairing: OT7 x Reader

Ratings: M

Warnings: language. Future violence. Talk of abuse. In this chapter the reader is reminded of her past. Sensitive topics are discussed please don’t read if you are a sensitive person.

Summary: As a professional eliminator you are ordered to get rid of Bangtan. A group of trained fighters hiding behind the mask of BTS. Your mission is successful until you get to know them. Will Y/N be able to complete the mission, or will she end up protecting her target from the real danger?

My Superhero @feed-my-geek-soul... I love you <3

Note: Introducing Z.

“Fine, But I do need a favour from you as well.”

All seven where looking at you with unreadable expressions. They could see you wanted to trust, but they also saw how the internal battle continued and to be honest, they didn’t blame you. You’ve been through hell. You were confused and scared, but you kept a straight, serious face. They respected you for that.

“Anything Y/N. What do you need?” Jin asked. A smile made its way onto your face. You were finally going to get the truth.

“I need to know the truth behind my parents. Why were they killed and why not me? Also, I need to know why I never saw any of you at the academy. I know I’m asking much but I know you have fairly good computer skills”

“Fairly? Excuse me for interrupting, but I have excellent computer skills! I’m offended.” Jungkook said with a pout. This only made him look cute and you could not help but smile at his offended state. The rest of the members on the other hand had no control as they all burst out in laughter at the youngest’s protest to your statement.

Oh boy, you were scared to the bone to meet this woman. They seem to trust her but you on the other hand hate meeting strangers. The last time you willingly trusted a stranger he raped you on your sixteenth birthday.

“W-who exactly is this woman? Can she really be trusted?” you hesitantly asked.

“Well, her name is Z (Zee). Or that’s what she said her name is. We do trust her but still you need to be on your guard. This woman can be dangerous and when you meet her, you’ll see why we say so. But don’t worry, she’ll be nice to you. To be quite honest, she’s been through a similar situation as yourself only it was her father that did the raping and not a stranger. Still trust was broken so she’ll understand you.” Namjoon said.

“Do I need to tell her my story?”

“No, leave that to us. You went through it once, no need to go through it a second time in one week. And even though we know you don’t trust us, yet…. we’ll be close by your side through the whole ordeal.” Yoongi said. His word made you smile. Maybe for the first time in your life you’ll be able to trust not one but seven men. You really needed that in your life.

On your way to this mysterious Z, the boys were kind enough to inform you that you were in fact in South Korea. Very far from your home country. You learned a lot about their cultures and way of life. They also told you that they chose South Korea as a safe haven because it’s far enough to be under Patrick’s radar. He never paid mind to the smaller things in life and a smaller country was no exception. Unfortunately, he found them when they left their safe haven. And that’s when the task of kill or be killed started for both parties. For some or other odd reason, Patrick never could follow their tracks back to Korea.

You wanted to be mad at them for taking you so far away from home, but on the other side you were grateful. Pulling up to the building were Z was, you couldn’t help but notice the area. It looked dangerous to even breathe. Not that you liked judging things by appearances but the graffiti on the wall saying ‘Prepare to die, bitch’ was a big clue.

“She chose this neighbourhood because it looks shady, but this place is the safest place you can get. Don’t worry, this all will be over sooner than you think.” Hoseok reassured you.

The first thing you noticed as you walked into the building was the change of scenery. This place felt warm, bright walls, open living area and a delicious smell meeting your nose. A middle-aged woman approached you all with caution. She was small, yet her eyes were intimidating.

“Welcome back boys haven’t seen you seven in a while. And who might this small thing be?” The woman gave you a once over, starting at your feet and only ending when her piercing eyes locked unto yours. She was trying to get a read on you, trying to judge how trustworthy you might be. You made sure to keep eye contact as she scanned your small form. You refused to snap under her strong gaze.

“Z, it so good to see you again. This is Y/N and she need cleansing.” Namjoon said. So, this is Z. She seemed like a nice lady, but somethings not right. You didn’t know what, but this woman could not be trusted.

“Y/N? Why does that name ring a bell? Okay, spill it. Who exactly is this and why did you bring an eliminator into my house?” Z was clearly angry at the boys. Maybe she got the same vibe from you as you got from her.

After the boys calmed Z down and filled her in on the latest, her whole attitude toward you changed. This was supposed to put you at ease, but it only made you nervous. You had no idea what this woman was capable of or what she had in mind for you. Bottomline was you just can’t trust her. Something about her was screaming at you to get away.

You pulled Taehyung aside, away from the others. “Tae, do you all really trust this woman? I get a strange feeling from her and I honestly don’t like it”

“Y/N, to be honest I don’t know if we can or should trust her, but she helped us when we needed help the most. We owe her our freedom. Besides its not like we have another choice” Tae answers back. This was not the answer you wanted. AT ALL.

“Y/N! There’s only one way to get yourself back and that’s to let go of all the emotions you buried the past 13 years. And the best way and fastest way to do that is through fighting.” Z was stepping towards you as she said these words. An uncomfortable hint of intimidation behind her eyes.

When Z told you, you were going to fight you thought one fight was going to be all you needed. Well, Z had other plans.

You found yourself in a room with a very strong looking man. This man was supposed to fight you until one of you were brought to submission. This was going to be a piece of cake…

The fact that this man was smirking at you made you laugh. You couldn’t blame him to be honest, you were so small compared to his built. His arms and legs were huge. He probably thought he had the upper hand and that you wouldn’t even last two minutes. Poor boy didn’t know what was coming for him.

He darted your way, you easily ducked him and left him crashing into the wall.

“Rule number 1. Never underestimate your opponent by their looks.” You said this more to yourself than anyone else, but you did in fact manage to piss this guy off. He lunged for you, you ducked and connected your elbow into his stomach. You had no choice, he might be slow, but he could still do a lot of damage if he managed to land on of his punches.

It didn’t take much to bring Bob here down for his level of skill were far below yours. Just when you thought you could relax another poor soul entered the room.

“What the hell Z? Do you want me to kill everyone you have?” Without answer you spend the next 2 hours fighting. Every fight only lasting a few minutes. What is she playing at? You were breathing heavily, your stamina was high, but two hours of non-stop fighting was taking its toll.

“I must say she surprised me so far. She looks small and quiet incapable but going for a full 2 hours is well above anyone I’ve met.” Z said. The boys were just as amazed. They knew you were more than capable of fighting, but two hours was long, maybe even for them.

“She hasn’t broken yet, has she?” Jimin asked.

“No, that’s why I’m sending in her last opponents… You” She was staring at them. None of them dared to look away.

“Me? Why me? I’m not even that strong. I know she’s tired she will still fight like hell.” Jimin said with wide eyes.

“No, not just you Jimin. All seven of you must go in now. I know you guys feel sorry for her and I get it I do. But it’s up to you to break her even if you must throw her past at her. She won’t like it and probably will try and kill you, but She’ll understand as soon as she breaks. Do what you must.” Z’s word struck them. They never thought of throwing your past back into your face. That’s not like them. But they knew they had to. For your own good.

When they first entered relieve washed over you. You were finally done and could rest, but then they closed the door and it locked. Confused you looked at them. Their faces were filled with sorrow and grief. This was not go-…

Tae lunged for you, grabbing your arm and pushing you to the ground. He leaned forward and whispered in your ear. “Forgive me Y/N. But there’s no other way to help you…” Slowly you realized what they were going to do. You started struggling. You needed to get away, away from what they had to do.

You struggled out of Tae’s grasp. Jumping to your feet you observed all seven forming a circle around you. Crap…

“Y/N, you enjoyed it when he touched you, didn’t you?” Hoseok said as he stepped forward and touched your arm softly. Images flashed in your minds eye, enraging you.

“Get away from me!” you yelled as you punched Hoseok on his right cheek, making him stumble back.

“You sat there and watched them torture and murder your parents” Namjoon piped up across from you.

“N-no, I don’t want to remember!” You yelled as you saw your parents’ lifeless eyes stare back at you.

“Y/N, did it feel good? When he fucked you?” Taehyung said.

Spinning around your sight became blurry as the rage and pain over took you, tears flowing freely down your face. You crouched, ready to strike when another voice piped up.

“How could you do nothing to save your parents?” By this time, you no longer heard the seven boys, you only heard ‘Him’. Your change didn’t go unnoticed to the seven and they took full advantage of this.

“Pathetic little girl”

“You’re a murderer”

“You enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

“Dirty little slut”

“Traitor”

“Did you even love your parents?”

“How could you?”

“Weak!”

“Helpless”

“You could have stopped them, you could have stopped him!”

“Murderer!”

“Traitor!”

“Murderer!”

“Traitor!”

Grabbing your head your eyes became wild. Your mind went on total auto pilot as your body sprang forward. You lunged for the first person in sight and started punching. Jin stumbled back as you spun around ready to pounce for your next target.

All seven started moving closer. Limiting your space as they kept verbally assaulting you.

“You enjoyed every second”

“Sadistic little bitch”

“Traitor”

“Murderer”

“How could you?”

“Nothing! You did nothing!”

“You’re just like him…”

Grabbing your head, a blood-curling scream left your mouth, silencing the seven boys around you. You screamed until your voice went hoarse. A deadly silence entered the room as you stared into oblivion. A new wave of tears spilled from your eyes as the memories consumed your mind. Collapsing to the floor you hugged yourself as you cried for everything you lost.

Your mothers soft voice, your fathers encouraging words… your innocence… and them nothing but a black veil took hold of you, you slipped into a deep dreamless sleep for your body could no longer endure such pain.

Part 8

Tag list: @xxgothickxx @leohaili1 @sparky-isnt-a-vampire @unicornsandpinguins @goldenkookss @confusedmonkeyslut@tvehyungs-gf @unreasonable-logic @aqilahahmadx @shuuxlevi @moniebuns

#bts #mission bangtan #part 7 #Z #edited #bts x reader #ot7 x reader

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teacherunicorn · 7 years ago

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Opposites Attract (Chapter 81)

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68Chapter 69 Chapter 70 Chapter 71 Chapter 72 Chapter 73 Chapter 74Chapter 75 Chapter 76 Chapter 77 Chapter 78 Chapter 79 Chapter 80 Chapter 81

Life in the Gotham Narrows was simple; every man for himself. Sure, there were families, friends even, who held a steadfast and die-hard loyalty to each other but the stranger down the street was hardly your problem. Rule number one: look out for number one.

Alyssa had spent her entire life caring and worrying for others, so one would think the shift of focus would be difficult for her. One would be wrong. As soon as the sunset on the city and all the children were in bed one could find her in one of the Narrow’s fighting rings, drinking, making bets, and occasionally fighting herself. Once she crossed that old bridge the rest of the world ceased to exist.

Not that this was a cure all by any means. The quality of her work was beginning to slip. She was short with the older kids and no longer had interest in playing with the younger ones. Selina had more than once found her asleep at her desk with a pen in her hand and papers stuck to her face.

“Mom! Come on, wake up!” the teen shook Alyssa’s shoulder.

“Hmm?” she blinked and yawned. “Oh, hey kitten.” she peeled herself off of her paper work and stretched her arms above her head before reaching for the half-empty whiskey bottle on the corner of the desk.

“Mom, are you okay?”

Alyssa scoffed out a fake laugh. “You know I’m gettin’ really tired of everybody askin’ me that. I’m okay, I’m fine.” she insisted. “I swear, the next person who asks me if I’m okay, I’m punchin’ em.”

Usually Selina Kyle was quite good at masking her emotions and keeping them to herself. Alyssa was her weak spot however, which meant that she was a different story.

“Don’t lie to me!” She snapped.

“I’m not!”

“Yes you are! You’re lying to me, and you’re lying to yourself!”

“Selina Marie Kyle, you have no right to speak to me that way!”

“Mom, I’m worried about you!” Selina’s voice cracked slightly. “Ever since that whole thing with Tetch, you’ve been acting crazy! Something happened that night, and I get that it was hard, but pretending it didn’t happen isn’t gonna help!”

“Oh so you’re worried I’m so out of it I’m about to blow my lid? Who are you and what have you done with my kid?” Alyssa slapped a hand over her mouth.

“Mom..?”

“I’m fine....” Alyssa leaned on the desk for support.

“No, you’re not.” Selina insisted. “You’re running on fumes, and you can’t run forever.”

“You don’t have to worry about me kitten. I’m the mother, worrying is my job.”

Her daughter scoffed. “Mom, could you stop being so high and mighty for once? You’re right, you are my mother. You’re my mother, and I love you, and I wanna help you.”

Alyssa studied the girl’s face, seeing the genuine worry and concern in her eyes. Her sweet baby girl. She recalled the guarded, short tempered child she’d been when they’d met. That was a girl who did not trust the world around her, and with good reason too.

But that girl was no longer here. Gone was the sad little girl who’d been convinced that her mother was still alive. She’d found a new home with a new mother. Sometimes Alyssa envied her daughter; to be able to drop the life you have and exchange it for a better one must be a wonderful luxury.

Then again, Alyssa considered what that meant for her. While the people she cared about could be formidable foes when she was threatened, they’d also had their moments of being foes themselves. Oswald, Edward, even Jerome.

But never Selina.

And it was that steadfast loyalty that managed to turn the screaming in Alyssa’s head to a dull roar, if only for a moment.

She sighed and hung her head, finally allowing the pain she’d been going through these last few weeks to show on her face. “Kid I’m....I’m scraped out.” she admitted. “I mean life keeps throwin’ nothin’ but curve balls at me, and I’ve always been able to....flip myself back over eventually, but....I guess I ran outta times.” she shook her head. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Jervis always did pack quite the punch.”

“....What happened? That night he took you, Jamie and that Alice chick?”

Alyssa flinched, squeezing her eyes shut. Selina had been kind enough not to say his name, but the tension of it still hung in the air.

‘’Lyssa, we belong together, you know that.’

‘You and I truly are two of a kind my dear.’

‘You don’t have to be scared. I’ll take care of you, I promise.’

‘I won’t let them take you from me again.’

“....Do you remember when you pushed that Archie guy out a window?” she asked, her voice far away. “You were so scared that I’d be mad at you, you tried to sneak past me through the apartment window.”

“I didn’t want you to be upset.” Selina said honestly. She had no idea where this conversation was going but at least Alyssa was finally talking to her.

“You were upset.” she countered. “You said what you did didn’t bother you, but I could tell you were lying. Just....the idea that you were capable of something like that....” Alyssa looked to where a clock hung on the wall to her left, useless now as she had punched the glass face in weeks ago to stop it from ticking. “J- He said I was just like him. That we’re two of a kind, cuz we’re the only ones who know how to...” she was unable to finish, instead tapping her fingers against her skull to get her point across. “...I don’t wanna be like that. Not again.”

*******

*Four years ago*

Having Jervis Tetch back in her life made Alyssa’s visits to Arkham difficult. The trick was, he wasn’t Jervis Tetch anymore. It took some time for her to fully believe it, but the inmate in the top hat truly believed that he was the Mad Hatter from the Alice in Wonderland books. Alyssa had no clue what had happened to him, but whatever it was she wasn’t brave enough to test it too much.

She was subtle, mentioning the name Alice only to get stories of a girl who fell down a rabbit hole. The child he described did sound alarmingly close to his sister, but Alyssa tried to write that off as paranoia. Eventually this paranoia faded as she started to understand just how different the man and the delusion were.

Hatter for instance had no use for technology or tools like Jervis had. He didn’t seem to care if someone wrote him off, simply skipping away to invite the next person he saw to his latest tea party.

Jervis wasn’t like that. When he didn’t get what he wanted things got ugly.

Alyssa knew better than to show weakness around the inmates of Arkham, so she played along with Hatter’s idea that she was the White Queen of his story. In a way it was rather sweet. You couldn’t ask for a better cheerleader than someone who actually believed you were a queen. In fact it wasn’t long before Hatter became one of Alyssa’s favorite inmates. She eventually forgot the history she had with the man he’d be before in favor of having tea with the man he was now.

Still, it was an odd thought to see Hatter with a mischievous smile that somehow held far much more innocence than the one Jervis used to give her.

“Hatter.” she gave him a look as she approached the table in the Arkham cafeteria that held a styrofoam tea set the man had decorated with colors and flowers.

“Your majesty.” Hatter nodded, not tipping his hat as he usually did, both hands held firmly behind his back.

“What have you got behind your back?”

His grin widened as he presented a pristine white paper crown that had a lace design to it. “For you, my queen.” he said as he went down on one knee and held the crown out to her. “I confess it not to be my best work, but resources have been unusually limited in this place.”

“Oh Hatter, it’s lovely.” Alyssa smiled.

“May I?”

“Of course.”

He stood and reached his arms up to position the crown perfectly on her head. As his fingers brushed down her hair, Alyssa recalled a similar white crown he’d made for her out of daises. The memory cast a shadow over the innocent moment and her smile faded.

“Whatever’s the matter, my dear?” he looked at her in concern.

“It’s nothing.” she assured. “I’m alright, Hatter.”

“Then smile.” he cupped her chin, fingers holding her cheek as shivers went down her spine. “It’s coronation day.”

******

For all that Alyssa was doing to pretend Jervis didn’t exist, Jim was doing his best to track the man down. After he had slipped out of GCPD custody, there had been countless reports of people of Gotham’s underworld killing each other, all without motivation. What really unsettled him was that these were all people he knew Alyssa had some kind of connection to. Weather it was a back alley deal or some kind of agreement, they all had ties to the mayor.

If Alyssa was bothered by this, she wasn’t jumping down his throat about it. She wasn’t returning his calls either, and even though Barnes had wanted to put the woman under police protection, she had every right to refuse it -- especially as the mayor.

The whole situation put him on edge. He had come to learn that whenever Alyssa Connors wasn’t actively being a pain in his ass, something was seriously wrong. She had personally seen her sister Jamie along with Alice Tetch to some safe house upstate that she had refused to reveal the location of. He was honestly surprised she hadn’t gone with them; then again he’d never known Alyssa to run and hide in the face of adversary.

His phone ringing interrupted his train of thought. He flipped it open and held it to his ear. “Gordon.”

“Hello James.” a familiar voice said pleasantly. “I’ve heard you’ve been looking for me.”

******

Alyssa turned her head away from Alice, who was crying as her brother put a third needle into her arm. Everyone at the table knew those syringes full of deep red were bad news, and now that Jervis had one for all of his ‘guests’ she was dreading what was coming next.

“You know ‘Lyssa dear, I’ve always wondered what Alice’s blood would do to you.” he admitted. He leaned over her chair, resting his hands over hers, which were bound to the arm rests. “The beast in you is right there. Begging to come out. White queen turned red.” Jervis burst into a fit of giggles, but they faded out when Alyssa refused to look at him.

“Look at me!” his voice lost all of its affection as he tightly gripped her chin and forced her eyes to meet hers. “You’ve spent all these years ignoring who you are, you’ve actually forgotten! You’ve built up this idea, this persona. You think you’re above me, you’re not above me, dear ‘Lyssa, we’re the same!”

“We’re nothing alike.” Alyssa said lowly. “Not anymore.”

“Now you see, that, right there...” he released his bruising grip on her to point in her face. “There’s that illusion. It’s alright, I had it when we were separated too. But we’re finally together again.” he brushed the back of his gloved hand along her cheek, making Alyssa flinch away. “You don’t have to be scared. I’ll take care of you, I promise.”

Alyssa screamed, throwing the glass of wine she had been drinking at the wall. She couldn’t keep going like this. It had taken her ten years to get Jervis out of her head last time, and she wasn’t about to go through that again.

She sighed, rubbing at her temples. She knew this was self-destructive behavior. She’d had enough experience with it to be an expert. She just wasn’t sure she was strong enough to face her demons and be able to win. She had fought too hard already; her amour was full of holes and covered in rust.

Her ringing phone interrupted her medieval musings, and she was tempted to throw it against the wall with the red wine that was currently staining her carpet. But she didn’t do that. Instead, she answered it.

“Hello?”

“’Lyssa darling!”

Alyssa immediately hung up. It didn’t take very long for her phone to ring again. Huffing, she answered it once more. “Yes?”

“Careful my dear, I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss. If you do, it’s your dear heart’s love down the abyss.”

“What are you rambling about now?”

“I did a little research my dear. To see who had taken my place and become the new Andy; your little arm candy.”

That got her attention. Jervis had been convinced that Andy was coming between them, which had led to him killing him. If she thought she had a new ‘Andy’, whoever he had decided it was was in big trouble. Plus, his rhyming habit was back, which Alyssa knew meant that he was already teetering on the edge.

“Alright, alright, I’m listening. You have my full attention.” She assured, doing her best to keep her voice level.

“Good.” Jervis said pleasantly. “Then you won’t mind joining me for tea. Nothing formal this time, just our usual set up in Arkham.”

“Aren’t you on the run from Arkham? I’d hate to see you locked back in there.”

“Oh ‘Lyssa dear, you underestimate me.” someone screamed in the background of the call, and Alyssa heard several gun shots. “You know, it is remarkable how quickly the police in this town respond nowadays.” Alyssa’s heart dropped to her stomach. “I suggest you hurry, my dear. Between the GCPD and the asylum’s residents, there are quite a few people here that you care about I can hurt.”

#jervis tetch #selina kyle imagine #jim gordon #gotham tv show

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sienna-walsh · 7 years ago

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Someone will love you, but someone isn’t me.

“Si Si, sweetheart, when is that Nathaniel arriving? Didn’t you say he was coming for Christmas?” It’s been nearly two years since Nate and I broke up and at least three since he last joined the family for the holiday season. This is also the sixth, maybe seventh time Grandad has asked about him since I’ve arrived in London only a few days ago. After all this time, it hasn’t gotten any easier hearing his name. My tongue goes dry, like sandpaper in my mouth. My hands get clammy. The room begins to spin. It’s not that I miss him, not even in the slightest. It’s the reminder of what I’ve done, the crushing weight of the guilt, that makes me feel so weak. Luckily, Nan or Ruth, his caretaker, are usually around to answer for me and placate poor Grandad’s confusion while I undoubtedly freeze in place, dumbfounded, and stare blankly back at them with a doe eyed expression. By the time I unglue myself from the couch in the parlor, everyone’s cleared out. Nan has Bridge to play at the club and Ruth has taken Grandad upstairs for a lie down and I am left to my own devices. A dangerous place for me to be, unsupervised and weighed down with unsought nostalgia. It dawns on me that I don’t have anywhere to go, no plans for the evening, another dangerous rarity. Sitting back down, I lose track of time as I get lost in my thoughts. My memories. ↠ “It’s not a fucking death sentence, Sienna, it’s a ring! A big, fucking shiny one at that! I don’t understand what your problem is.” Nate growled from the driver’s seat of his Lexus IS as we weaved precariously through the never ending Los Angeles traffic He’s mad again. Pissed. It’s our latest routine, we fight until we are both too exhausted to fight anymore and rather than resolve the issues, we pretend they don’t exist and move on…until the next blow up. “If you don’t want me to say no, then stop fucking asking me.” I retorted coldly without looking at him. Instead, I stared longingly out the window, contemplating just how much damage my body would take and if I would survive if I opened the door and rolled out of the car right then and there. It seemed preferable to having this conversation…again. My words ended it for now though and we drove the rest of the way back to campus in silence. I was supposed to stay with him that night, but I wasn’t surprised and was genuinely relieved when we pulled up to the Tri-Delt house. I got out of the car and slammed the door without saying goodbye. ↠ “Did you look at any of those houses I texted you?” I didn’t need to answer him verbally, Nate knew me well enough to know by the vacant expression on my face that I hadn’t. That I wouldn’t. He called me stubborn, claimed I was just afraid and nervous of the future. With graduation just a week away, Nate had us both convinced this was just cold feet. He believed we could get through this together, get through anything together. Because we loved each other, but I was beginning to question the difference between loving each other and being in love with one another. That was the first instance where I started to feel the crushing weight of guilt in my chest. Squeezing my lungs. Suffocating me. My stubborn nature proved more resilient than I could ever admit to myself. The need to prove people wrong, to fight them telling me ‘no’ because everyone had seen it. My family, my sisters, my friends. The entire 3 year span of Nate and I’s relationship had this dark shadow of doubt cast over it. They all knew what I was just beginning to understand. This wasn’t my forever and no matter how many times and various ways I was warned, I brushed it off because I wanted to be right. I wanted to fit ‘the mold’ Nate wanted me in, because I cared for him. I loved him. Didn’t I? ↠ “Sienna Penelope Slater!” The Chancellor called my name. Shrouded by the roar of cheers and echoes of applause, I traipsed across that stage in my cap and gown with the world at my fingertips and accepted my diploma. My future. For the first time in a long time, I had felt like myself. Facing seemingly endless opportunity made my heart race with anticipation. Little did I know, I had also accepted my fate. The ceremony lasted nearly another two hours, but it felt like eternity. Even though Commencement happened outside, in Alumni Memorial Park, I was beginning to feel stifled. Cooped up. The past four years, being stationary, settled in one place with one person, finally caught up with me. I had never experienced a panic attack before and at the time I had no idea what was happening. Why it was happening. I began to feel light headed, dizzy. My hands were coated in a thin sheen of cold sweat. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest and for a moment I swore it was going to break through my ribcage. I never got to hear the Commencement Speech Mellody Hobson gave that day. Before she took the stage, I had excused myself from my seat in the seat of other graduates and swiftly made my exit. ↠ Dinner with the ‘rents. Meet you there. I left Nate’s text message unread on the home screen of my phone. I was just leaving my dad’s house after having lunch, tea, and some catch up time with my own family. My parents were heading to dinner with my Aunt and Uncle, my grandparents had already retired to their hotel, and Elijah had no desire to join Brinley, Lia, and I at the Tri-Delt house for the sorority’s senior farewell party. If I was being honest with myself, which I hadn’t been for the past four years, I didn’t even care that Nate would be late and by the time we got the party, I didn’t even care if he showed up at all. I had lost count of the shots I had taken in a matter of an hour. I had lost track of Brin and Lia long before that and for a fleeting moment, everything felt good. Light. Airy. Free. The panic from earlier had subsided and I was joyous in my celebration of all the potential the next chapter of my life had in store. It wasn’t long before that weightless feeling intensified, courtesy of the liquor that flowed through my veins. I was careless and giggling, reminiscing with my sisters and friends. All of us elated on the high of accomplishment and jello shots. I was immediately deflated the moment I saw Nate walk into the backyard. That’s when things get foggy. I wouldn’t see my boyfriend again until later that night, when he finds me in bed with Jay Turner. ↠ Never in my life could I recall a silence so loud, so deafening. I wanted to say something…anything, but I couldn’t formulate a single coherent thought let along manage to string words into a sentence. The cold, dead expression behind green eyes that had only, until this moment, gazed upon me with such love and adoration numbed me to the core. I waited for what felt like an eternity before Nate finally spoke, words that would haunt me for years to come, not for their kindness, but because of how much truth rang in them. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Sienna?” He started with a question he had asked before and one I’ve been asking myself for even longer. I still didn’t have an answer, so I blinked in response. That seemed to satisfy him enough to continue his tirade. “I have given you everything. Everything anyone could ever want, could ever dream of, and this is how you repay me? Playing me for a goddamn fucking fool? After everything we have been through together, you can’t even find the decency to end things civilly? Of course not, you’re so fucking selfish, it makes me sick. No one is ever good to be good enough for you, are they? I can’t even look at you anymore.” God, I should have said something, but anything I had to say would just be excuses he wouldn’t want to hear. Whatever fucked up excuses I would have used to rationalize my infidelity weren’t going to make him feel better because he was right. I was selfish, as were my reasons. I was scared to settle, terrified of losing myself forever in a future I wasn’t sure I wanted. I panicked. Sabotaged. I wanted to tell him I cared so deeply for him and that’s why I couldn’t bring myself to break it off when I knew I should have. I wish he would have believed that I did love him, just not the way he wanted me to. I wanted to apologize for not being able to get there and for stringing him along. I only wanted that for me, to ease my guilt, to be forgiven. I didn’t deserve that. So instead, I let him go and that’s the last time we ever spoke. ↠ “Sienna, dear? It’s dark, do you want me to turn a lamp on?” Nan’s gentle voice coaxes me out of the somber haze I had fallen into. I blink a few times to get my bearings, coming to the realization I’m still in the parlor in my grandparents home. Nan has just gotten home from Bridge, so I must have been lost in thought for at least an hour. I’m not ready to speak yet, afraid my voice will shake and give away my vulnerable state. Instead, I muster my best smile and shake my head in response. Nan doesn’t listen, a trait inherited, and flips on the lamp that sits on the corner table before she joins me on the couch. She wraps her arm around my shoulder, pulling me close, sensing my need for comfort. I nuzzle into her warmth and she cradles me like a child and I feel safe. I feel at home. “Are you happy, my girl?” Nan asks, breaking the silence as she brushes her fingers through the ends of my hair. I smile, lifting my head from her shoulder so our gazes could meet and I nod again. “I’m always happy, Nan.” I tell her, a hint of laughter lacing my voice. She chastises me with a click of her tongue, making us both laugh while I roll my eyes. “You were thinking about Nathaniel. Do you miss him?” My smile fades to a frown and I furrow my brows, shaking my head once again. “I don’t miss him, Nan, I just wonder sometimes. What he’s doing, if he’s doing well. If he found the one.” I lift my hands to use my fingers to put air quotes around the last two words. Nan doesn’t say anything right away and just when I think she isn’t going to at all, she surprises me with her next question. “Do you think you’ll ever settle down?” The shock on my face at her inquiry must have been evident, because she’s laughing now, but doesn’t follow up with anything else. She’s waiting for me to answer and I choose my words carefully. “I settled before, Nan. Never again.” I vowed. “I don’t mean your spirit, Sienna. I mean your heart.” She didn’t wait for an answer this time. Instead, she left me to ponder her words as she pat my thigh and rose from the couch. “I’m tired, babygirl, goodnight.” As Nan walks out of the parlor, she peeks over her shoulder. “To the moon.” “And back.” I reply with a smile and find myself spending the rest of the night in the same spot contemplating just what her parting words of insight meant.

#[Sienna Narrative: 001]

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hdawg1995 · 7 years ago

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Chapter two, this time with the P4 cast!

The Cognitive net; a Persona 4 and Persona 5 cross over fanfic with OCs. Summary:

When a string of missing persons cases all seem to be linked by a far too familiar rumor, detective shirogane tries to enlist the help of her old investigation team. Unfortunately, not all of the original members are able to make it to shibuya-the sight of the latest case- but she finds help from an unexpected hacker and her friends. Elsewhere, a small team of brand new persona users have already figured out the “cognitive web” and it’s strange search engine. Will detective Shirogane and the hacker Alibaba discover the new group of heroes in time to realize this case is not city wide, but WORLD wide?

Chapter 2: one new message/a run down for the newbie

1/2/3/4/5

If the walls of Detective Shirogane’s office could speak, they would have very little to say but those words would be astonishing. 45 cases- murders, kidnappings, petty crimes and robberies- in the two years she returned to the force alone. The bluenette was diligently looking over the latest case files; missing persons cases that were handed to her not because they were another case to solve, but because SHE could possibly be the only one to solve them.

“5 people have gone missing in the past three weeks. The first went missing at 8am while in their own home. His mother reported him missing after she came to check on him. He had been playing video games…” she flipped to the other file. “This one went missing in the middle of school, the only thing the police were able to find was her cell phone…” Naoto stared at the file and made a note to make a request to look at the phone. She shifted though the other files and saw a pattern with those who went missing and leaving their phones behind. The 3 phones that were not locked led to a website and all apps aside from the web browser were locked.

There was something about these cases she couldn’t shake. They felt familiar and it sent a rock like weight down to her stomach.

“I need a second opinion… maybe a third.” She fiddled with the brim of her hat and reached for her cell phone. It has been a long time, least to her.

Opening the phone, she found the old text chat she had been added to the day it seemed everyone became adults and parted ways.

<Thisll b how we stay in toch!

<Yosuke please type like a normal person.

<yu, plz stp txtin lk a old man.

She laughed at the interaction between the two partners. Scrolling though the old chat she felt a wave of nostalgia. It was bitter sweet- she missed the old times and the silly things they would do, but all that changed a year and a few months ago. That was the last she talked to any of her old friends from Inaba.

>Hello Everyone. It Has Been A Long Time. I Wish I Was Contacting You All With Happy News Or Questions About Your Lives But I Have Been Given A Case And I Request Your Opinions On It.

She stared at her phone for a few moments. She did not expect the almost instant “many people are typing” notification and gasped when her phone buzzed with text messages.

<Naoto kun! I will be happy to help you! I’m taking a break from performing, so I’m all ears!

<Holy shit shes not texting in all caps!

>My Word Yosuke, You’re Texting In Full Words!

The chat grew abuzz with laughter and the nostalgia was fading. The truth was she didn’t have to stay in the past; her friends were right here, even if they were miles away.

<Naoto, I’m happy you remembered this chat but out of all the cases “The Returning Prince of justice” has solved, what makes this one special enough to ask for our assistance?

Senpai. Even in text form she was able to hear that suspicious tone he had when he knew she was avoiding something.

<oh man I’m not dreaming! This chat IS active again!

<whoa, Kanji! You’re not getting long distance charges are you?

<oh my that’s right! you’re in America!

<nah, don’t worry yukiko, i get free texts from japan since ma checks in with me. wait, Yosuke how did you know I would have been getting long distance charges?? What about you? Weren’t you in America as well?

The detective blinked down at her phone with shock. So much has happened she was almost floored. She made a note to speak with her friends more often.

<haha yeah. About that…

<guys! I love you all but I don’t have long for my break! Naoto still needs to explain why she is coming to us for this case!

>Yes, My Apologies. It Would Seem There Has Been A String Of Missing Persons Cases, Three Of Which I Have Noticed A Trend That My Gut Is Telling Me The Other Two Cases Will Also Exhibit Once I Investigate The Crime Scene Of One Case.

<I heard of this. Nanako mentioned it to me the other day. one of her class mates’s older siblings knew the 3rd victim.

<How is nana-chan, Yu san?

<focus yukiko! I heard about these too. My teacher at the training camp is working on the case with you Naoto!

>Does That Mean You Are In Shibuya, Chie?

The detective sat up strait in her chair. She reached for a note pad and pen when her phone buzzed, Chie confirming her location and adding she would be visiting the district her office is in with said teacher (he had planned to surprise her she guessed, but the cat is out of the bag now).

<hey I know! Lets all meet up!

<yukiko, what about the Inn? And Kanji is in America. Plus Rise is on tour!

<my Tour is ending soon Yosuke kun!

<WHAT? But I didn’t get to see you on stage yet!

<I’m sorry, the last 3 stops had to cancel due to

>Rise?

<I just realized! The last 3 stops had to cancel because the kids of the venue owners went missing! oh no Naoto kun I think I know why you want our opinions! Is it because they went missing like people from the midnight channel went missing?

Naoto smiled grimly at her phone. Rise may have been a bubbly idol but she wasn’t dumb like morooka had implied she was (least that’s what one of Yoskue’s stories about the former home room teacher suggested).

>Yes. I Am Afraid There Seems To Be A Connection To The Victims That Feels Far Too Familiar To That Of The Midnight Channle.

<Holy shit.

<Naoto you said you were in Shibuya?

>Yes, That Is Where My Office Has Been For Two Years Now, Yu San.

<I can be there in a few days to discuss things face to face.

<I will not be joining. Yosuke kun is right, I can not leave the Inn. Not yet at least. If the case hasn’t been solved in a month I will be joining you! But I certainly hope you will be able to solve this soon. Those poor parents must me worried sick.

<I can swing by in two weeks, Naoto kun! And my break is over, love you everyone! Tty real soon!

<Count me out. Unfortunately I’m in America for the next year. I havn’t told you guys this, but I got invited to do a run way show a few months back and one of the companies loved my designs so much they offered me an internship.

<Kanji that’s amazing! You HAVE to make me an outfit some time!

<Rise go, you’re going to be late. As for me you know I will be there!

<sorry, I can’t swing the train ticket or plane ticket or… anything like that right now.

>Do You Need Me To Send You The Money? This Counts As Case Related So I Can Use The Funds The Department Has Granted Me.

<its not just that Naoto. I actually have to get going anyway, customer needs me. I Will explain another time.

<wow. Since when has yosuke been responsible?

<Chie have you never noticed his dedication?

<OF COURSE I HAVE! Its just. I don’t remember him putting anything before us. Shoot, he even let me buy teddie’s outfit with his money!

<hes an adult now. As we all have noticed we can’t put our friends first all the time anymore. As sad as that is, I am proud to see he is still dedicated to his work.

Naoto nodded at Yu’s words. She felt better about not speaking to anyone in such a long time and decided to make the notes she was beginning to make. First, to make arrangements for three of her friends to be a part of the case, and second… to visit the first victim’s home and investigate his computer.

“I certainly believe you are right Yukiko. Lets both hope we are able to solve this case before the Calvary is needed.”

--------------------------------------

meanwhile, in the world wide cognitive web, The Admins stood around, waiting on their leader.

With a wave of her hand a blue room appeared. It was a box and it fit with the other random structures in the cognitive web. A door appeared with the number 5 on it. as everyone filed in Alpha paused and looked out at the ninja that was watching them a moment ago. Sure enough, he was still there, still watching, however now he looked ready to spring away into the artificial night the web was simulating.

“Alpha? [what are you doing?]” the rabbit poked its head out of the litteral chat room to become it’s partner inside.

She didn’t respond, she simply walked inside. Once the door was closed the 5 glowed for a moment before shifting to a 6. On the inside two couches and a coffee table appeared. J4k3 and Skitty took the one to the left while Click sat at the one at the back of the table. Alpha stood at the front and opened a text chat.

“whats with that? Were all here.” Skitty leaned forward and clawed at the table, testing the cutesy paws that appeared when she wasn’t thinking.

“that sillouete we all saw is Hero. He is a unofficial member of the Admins.” The toy rabbit leaped onto Alpha’s sholder as she moved the chat box to be at her right. “Alpha is allowing him to listen in if he wishes.”

“we figure hes mute since he doesn’t talk to us, but he has messaged us once. Is that what the chat is for? Incase he has something to say?” J4k3 gently took Skitty’s…paw? Hand? Into his to keep her from clawing the table any further.

With a nod their leader presented the group with the IP address she was able to trace.

“okay everyone! Since this is Skitty’s first meeting lets give a run down!” the rabbit hopped down onto the table and pulled up various floating documents. “our first rescue was ClickClickBoom, Alpha’s right hand man! He was support until I entered the web!” the star arcana explained as they puffed out their chest. “now I am support. I scan shadows and tell you their weaknesses.”

“shadows, Nyan?” Skitty tilted her head and click rolled his eyes.

“I’ll explain what shadows are if you agree to stop with the nyan stuff.”

“aww you’re no fun… but fine.” She purred as she leaned back in her seat and gave the youngest her full attention.

“Shadows are the manifestations of human hearts. There like personas, but bad. Your shadow can be your suppressed emotions, your over inflated ego, or even your inner darkness. They are always exaggerated tho.”

Skitty nodded “you explained that when I got Leomund. So all shadows are like that? Not just the ones that drag their other halves here?” the Magician turned from The Lovers and regarded the Fool, who simply nodded.

“Yup! They all have weaknesses, which means you also have weaknesses! We’ll figure those out later. Anyway, back to the meeting!” the rabbit sprang up and landed on a floating document.

“we have discovered that we have about a week to rescue someone. When you are dragged here you become data. Your shadow however starts to corrupt your data; if you become corrupted, your body can’t return to reality.” The air became somber as J4k3 leaned back.

“but even then we don’t know why some people can return and others can’t.” the Emperor reached out and tapped a floating file. The image of a chibi girl appeared. She smiled at the Admins and waved.

“This is Hallie. She was the team’s first rescue after me-“

“Rescue mission five!”

“-but like Gerade she became a data card instead of returning to reality.”

Hallie frowned and bowed her head. The robot reached out and hesitantly gave her a pat on the head. it wasn’t anyone’s fault she was like this.

“wait, so even if we save people they just become those cute tamagchi things? then whats the point!”

“its better then them becoming corrupted data.” Side Kick jumped up and flipped Hallie’s data card. “see? All of Hallie is right here. She is healthy and stable. She can return to reality once we figure out how to open her data card!”

The room felt warmer as click stood. “that’s our second job as Admins. We HAVE to figure out how to open the data cards and safely return the victims to reality.”

Alpha nodded and glanced at the text chat. there was a notification that a 6th persona had joined the chat room. She turned to the rest of her team. “Normally we have to trace the IP address that was used to access Cogntive.net, and then find a entry point. This takes a few days. At most 3. After that we track down the dungeon.” Alpha reached out and a map appeared. “These are the 9 dungeons we have found.” she grew silent to let Skitty look over the map when a block of pixels shifted to reveal a 11th dungeon. There was a ping and the Admins looked to the text chat to find a message.

Hero> I found a dungeon while you all were out. It was the “false alarm” you dismissed. I did not know dealing with the situation myself would affect the algorithm.

“Dude… you found a dungeon, took down a shadow, AND rescued someone in the span of a few minutes? That’s crazy!” J4k3 stood up to get a better view of the map.

“Hero, was the person… are they a data card?” Skitty also stood to look at the map better. There was another ping.

Hero> no, they will be assisting me. They insisted on it. You have two people on your side now.

Alpha nodded and went back to the map. “Any dungeon we encounter will become part of this map. However this is not a map of the cognitive web. The web is constantly changing. But when a new dungeon appears it rarely takes a day to travel to.”

Skitty blinked and her cat ears twitched. “you said “normally”. Does that mean this case is different? Is it going to be easier to find the dungeon?”

“yup!” click stood up and slammed his foot on the table, a wall of binary coming up. “since the victim used a public wi-fi we can just enter the IP address into the search engine and we’ll be teleported there! Public wi-fi isn’t password protected, that’s why you always gatta be careful when you’re using it, ya dig?” the motioned at the binary as it formed the cognitive net search engine, the IP already in the search bar.

“If we are ready, we can head out right now to save yuki mishima!” Side kick stated as the other gave their own affirmatives.

“one more thing!” Alpha stated as the chat room became barren again. “time is different here, Skitty. Don’t worry about things taking a week. Once we are in the dungeon it will feel like we’ve been in there for days, but in reality it had only been a few minutes.” She placed a hand on the cat themed idol’s shoulder. “are you ready to put your talents to good use?”

With a chestier grin she gave her leader a firm nod and The Admins were teleported away.

#Cognitive Net #persona 4 #persona 5 #cross over #fanfic #fanfiction #original characters #i spelt so many names wrong i know it

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alwaysrunningoutoftime · 7 years ago

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idealistic-imaginings BTS Fic Rec (Summer 2017)

If I’m gonna reblog fics, I’m gonna do it right. In an organized and set fashion. And sure I’m a complete no one, but these fics deserve love and attention because they’re all beautiful in their own way. And hey if this fic rec catches at least one persons eye, then I’ll be satisfied.

You’re gonna see a lot of the same authors...possibly their whole masterlist.

Once again I am a no one, but I’ve actually decided to do an endless series of fic recs because they’re constantly gonna be new stories to find and share. Some fic recs could be seasonal (as in I discovered them in that season, THIS), Memorable (these fics are ones that have strongly affected me and as it says are memorable), YouNeedaCheckIt (Chaptered stories, I’m keeping up with) and masterlist (a list of fics I’ve fell in love with in particular, in a persons masterlist, or several people’s. Basically gonna tell you who I stalked.)

I also just started reblogging (August2017) fics so theres a ton of hidden jewels I’ve read, but lost. Or haven’t read yet.

Ah Summer, the warmest season of the year. In the northern hemisphere it is linked to vacations, the end of school, and fun. Fun in the sun. For me it’s a time to finally take a break from school and relax. Hang out with friends, family and it is filled with opportunities to read fanfics. So with that heres my Summer fic rec... (there’s lowkey way more fics I’ve read this summer but those will go in SEVERAL other lists)

Kim Seokjin:

Show me by @floralseokjin (Seokjin x Reader)

W|C: 14,138 AU: College Genre: smut, fluff, little angst Summary: your friend Jin has a proposition for you that you can’t seem to refuse, no matter how hard you try.

Great Romances of the 21st Century by @floralseokjin (Seokjin x Reader)

W|C: 12,799 AU: Highschool Genre: drama, fluff, smut, comedy Summary: in which you must tutor the most arrogant and pretentious jerk that ever existed, who can’t seem to concentrate on anything other than football, working out and girls… but then something changes and you find yourself thinking – maybe Kim Seokjin isn’t so bad after all?

Regret by @hskswife (Seokjin x Reader)

W|C: 473 Genre: Angst Summary: I miss you, I really do.

Home Is Wherever You Are by @hijoonie (Seokjin x Reader)

W|C: 3,600 AU: Military Genre: angst, fluff Summary: Kim Seokjin believes he can face any and all things with dignity and strength - prides himself in his resilience and armoured heart. He is a brave man, through and through. The only fear he has is the inability to find his way back into your arms, which in turn would mean he has lost his way home. Because home is wherever you are.

Min Yoongi: lol why is there no Yoongi. Don’t worry Yoongi is one of my three main biases (umm my bad). See it was originally Taehyung, but then that faithful day came 150309 (did I seriously fall in love with him on his birthday) in this video , I don’t know how or why, but there was some sort of shift and I saw Min Yoongi in a different light (there weren’t any english subs even). And then I slowly fell in love with Min Yoongi, for all his layers and personas. For his tsundere complex and love for armys, his ability to say what he feels but at the same time not say anything at all. Especially his passion for music and hard working mindset, even though it makes us worry a lot about him. He’s chillaxed and easy-going and isn’t afraid to stray from the crowd, he’s comfortable and confident with who he is, but there’s so much more to him under the surface. And I really admire that about him. Also for being my spirit animal ey.

But trust me he’ll be in a whole bunch of other fic recs. Trust me, it’s just bad timing, In fact I started reblogging fics more then halfway through August. And it’s either I’ve saved those Yoongi fics to read later on. They’re a chaptered fic that hasn’t been updated in a while. Or they’re meant to be on another list.

Anyway you may be wondering who that third man is, well he’s up next. You see I don’t know how this man swerved and wiggled and danced his way into my heart. I guess it slowly happened over the course of a semester and the summertime, until finally he officially sticked. The golden hyung (who I lowkey think will kill it on broadway), a man of many talents, the happy virus, our hope, our angel. But also an amazing brother (and mother) to his BTS members, who carries such a passion for his art. In fact he’s fighting Yoongi for 1st place. As you can see from the total difference between the amount of fics I’m recing of his. (I’m sorry Taehyung)

Jung Hoseok:

Journeys Which Are Long Gone by @strawberrymarshmallowstories (Hoseok x Reader

AU: Magic Genre: Mystery Summary: Your days pass as usual, customers to meet, life to be risked with getting trapped in unknown realms. Just, the usual

Bones by @floralseokjin (Hoseok x Reader, Yoongi x Reader)

Chapters: 5 AU: College Genre: angst, smut, friends with benefits, fluff Summary: you were broken from a past relationship, and Hoseok wanted to fix you, but what price was he willing to pay? Would he end up worse off, or would you realise in time, that your best friend was the one…?

It’s Alright Honey by @strawberrymarshmallowstories (Hoseok x Reader)

Chapters: 4/? AU: Normal life Genre: Angst Summary: There had always been something underlying burning between you two, something that you never had a chance to explore as one of you had always been in a relationship. You played around with each other a lot, teasing, inviting, but always stopped when this innocent game was in danger to turn serious.

Dressed Like A Daydream by @dat-town (Hoseok x Reader)

W|C: 10,354 AU: Royalty, Cinderella Genre: adventure, fluff, romance, humour Prompt: Cinderella did not come to the party to enjoy it, but is instead an assassin tasked to kill the prince. (cr.) / I snuck into the castle to kill you, but wow you’re good with a sword, and I quite like your eyes Summary: When the Crown Princess’ best friend agrees to go to the ball instead of her, to kill Prince Hoseok and save her from an arranged marriage, that’s definitely not how she planned this.

Part of Your World by @guksthighs (Hoseok x Reader)

Chapters: 5 AU: Mermaid/Siren!Hoseok Genre: Fantasy, Angst, Fluff Request: AU where he is a merman and he tries to get you to go and live in the sea with him thanks Excerpt: ‘never trust a mermaid because they could be a siren in disguise’

Waiting For Him by @strawberrymarshmallowstories (Hoseok x Reader)

W|C: 880 Genre: slice of life, fluff Summary: When rainy evenings make you feel alone

First Meeting by @strawberrymarshmallowstories (Hoseok x Reader)

W|C: 1,360 Genre: Fluff Summary: You knew nothing about him, and he knew nothing about you. But in that moment you knew enough. His name was Hoseok.

Early Fluffy Mornings by @strawberrymarshmallowstories (Hoseok x Reader)

W|C: 1K Genre: Pure Fluff Summary: Early mornings with Hoseok were the best.

Kim Namjoon:

Mission Bad Boy by @oppamansae (Namjoon x Reader)

Chapters: 6/? AU: Highschool Genre: Angst, Humour Plot: What if you could win 100,000 Won by giving someone a makeover? But here’s the catch – you have 6 months to turn a nerdy, anti-social male into the school’s biggest heartthrob.

Park Jimin:

Young and Beautiful by @hayjeon (Jimin x Reader)

W|C: 12.6K AU: Great Gatsby Genre: angst, mentions of smut/murder, slight fluff Summary: “For a moment, all of earth and heaven held its breath as they witnessed a man who’d loved so fiercely, so unconditionally and thoroughly that he challenged god. Maybe once, the world had stood at this place, compelled into a trance at the single man who had dared to live so passionately to the greatest of human potential that one could ever comprehend nor desire to understand, faced with the man who’d dared to dream as magnificently as Park Jimin did.

Bitter Aftertaste by @hskswife (Jimin x Reader)

W|C: 689 Genre/Warning: Angst, Cheating Summary: Your love was like coffee. It had a bitter aftertaste

Kim Taehyung:

The Beautiful Creature Living In This House by @lthyl (Taehyung x Reader)

Chapters: prologue + 3/? GENRE: Horror / Angst RATED T: for mentions of esoterism, blood, death, and mature themes SYNOPSIS: It’s a rainy night when you end up getting lost in the woods and then it’s a silent night when, luckily, safety comes in a form of a strange house and a tempting man. Somehow you feel no danger with him, but, really, shouldn’t you, when the old rooms hold such a mystery and his eyes such a dark gravity?

Xeno by @oppamansae (Taehyung x Reader, Jungkook x reader)

Chapters: prologue + 8/? AU: Furturistic, Idol!JK, Scientist! Reader Genre: Fluff, Angst Plot: The best part about being an assistant in a lab was watching all new inventions come to life, although sometimes some of them fail, leaving them away in a storage room, never to be bothered with; free for the taking.

The T-Shirt Thief by @jungblue (Taehyung x Reader)

W|C: 9,812 AU: Idol Genre: fluff, smut Description: In the midst of your loneliness due to Taehyung’s absence, you decide that you need a distraction, which somehow manifests itself as going over to his apartment and stealing a t-shirt or two… or three… Request: being in a relationship with taehyung, and stealing all of his t-shirts while he’s busy with bts’ latest comeback + smut

Jeon Jungkook:

The Blue Princess and Her Red Rose by @cutaepatootie (Jungkook x Reader)

W|C: 34.8k AU: Prince!JK,Princess!Reader Genre: Angst, Fluff & Smut Summary: After all, he was her red rose, while she was just another one of the many blue roses that grew in the dying gardens of Greyria.

Portrait by @guksthighs (Jungkook x Reader)

W|C: 1.1k AU: College, Photography Genre: fluff Summary : You choose Jeongguk to work with for a project or is it because you have a crush on him? Request: oumaimafngr said: Hey, I love ur blog so much, and if requests are open I hope you’d make scenario of jk at college and he found out that his current crush is his childhood best friend thank you so much for writing great scenarios ❤❤

Untitled by @floralseokjin (Jungkook x Reader)

W|C: 1,679 Genre: angst Listen To: untitled // gdragon

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coleymari-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Cyber Space is Always Sweeter : Chapter 11

Summary: Lucy is a down to Earth, studious, responsible runaway attending Magnolia College. Natsu is a rambunctious, intelligent, pyrophilic fraternity boy going to the same school.

They don’t exactly run in the same circles and they have one hell of a history. What happens when the names and facades disappear and all that’s left are words blinking on a screen? Modern day, College/Pen Pals AU. I’m sorry I suck at intros. Rated M for Language, Adult Situations, and future sexual situations. Chapters 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Sleep now seemed like a foreign concept.

It had been about three weeks since she'd begun chatting with Dragon and Lucy's nights appeared to be growing shorter as time went on. At first, it had caused her issues, making her sluggish in the morning, losing focus in classes (especially Chemistry but that was for its own reasons), and all sorts of repercussions. Even Levy was beginning to notice the bags under the blonde's beautiful deep brown eyes. No amount of make-up was correcting that.

Being a Monday night, Lucy was camped out at the library's help desk as usual, laptop opened to her latest Chemistry assignment. Luckily she'd actually found enough intestinal fortitude to attend Natsu's group tutoring sessions for the past two weeks and was finally starting to understand the material. She'd missed the first one due to not being able to stomach her pride but after failing the first pop quiz, she'd quickly decided to sing another tune. Normally there were three or four students at each session so at least she hadn't been left alone with him. If she had, she definitely wouldn't have been able to focus. Just the thought of the two of them locked in an isolated study room was enough to fluster the poor freshman in more ways than one.

If she was being honest, Lucy hated the fact that she still found Natsu so alluring. She was a College woman now, weren't elementary school crushes a thing of the past? Granted they now came accompanied by racier, more enjoyable thoughts but that didn't change the fact that every time she saw him, she wanted to shove her head in the sand. His kindness and eagerness to help her didn't make matters any better. If anything she felt worse holding onto the wisps of a conflict when he'd clearly been adult enough to let it go.

As if by magic, Lucy's phone chimed alerting her to a new message in 'ChatApp' and sufficiently distracted her from her fantasies. She'd downloaded the online texting application at Dragon's suggestion so they could chat throughout the day without having to use the computer. They had agreed that swapping numbers would have been a bit too personal, so the app helped them stay in more constant contact.

DragonSlayer: Hey Starfire. Got a late class tonight so I probably won't be able to get online. Leave you something nice to wake up to?

Lucy couldn't help but blush wildly. She had to admit that she enjoyed his "slightly more than friendly" attention (as Levy had grown to call it). Not only did it provide her with a much-needed distraction from daydreaming about a certain pink-haired grad student, but it also made her feel wanted. Dragon had yet to really judge her on anything during the few weeks they'd known each other, he was a great listener, and obviously, he didn't want her for what she could do for him. Levy had warned her about the dangers of talking to strangers online, citing that in reality, he could be trying to hack into her computer or something. Given her father's status, anything was possible, but Lucy highly doubted that her cyber acquaintance was just using her as part of a bigger plot. Not like she had much to do with her father lately anyway.

Deciding to attempt to finish her Chemistry homework, Lucy logged into her student portal and was immediately greeted by an e-mail from just the person she was so conflicted about.

From: NDragneel To: LHeartfilia Subj: Extra help?

Had this worksheet laying around and figured it might help you with your formulas. Print it out and bring it this Friday!

Hope you had a good day after class!

-Natsu

Lucy smiled warmly. There was still a part of her that was utterly entranced by the older fraternity star. Regardless of how much of her wanted to run just at the mere sight of him, the blonde still allowed herself indulgences from time to time. The other day, as part of her morning workout, she'd run past Fairy Tail and watched the glistening Adonises play soccer for a split second. Of course, her gaze had immediately found pink-hair and chiseled abs, his V-cut slipping into the athletic shorts that hung dangerously low on his hips. She'd heard a couple of whistles, calls, etc. as she ran past and she'd secretly hoped that one of them was her TA.

Someone clearing their throat dragged her out of her musings but luckily they were nothing more than a lost freshman looking for a specific study room. Looking down at her screen, Lucy sighed when she realized that the library would be closing soon and she didn't get nearly as much done as she had intended. After packing up her things, she figured she had enough time to use the restroom before everything was locked up for the night so she ran around the corner, leaving her backpack beside the door, and tried to finish as quickly as she could.

Unfortunately, she wasn't fast enough. Upon leaving the restroom and arriving at the front door to the hall, Lucy groaned loudly when she realized the heavy oak door was already locked from the outside. How was she supposed to get out? No way was she staying in the library overnight. Figuring she could call campus security, the freshman pulled out her phone to find she had no reception inside the library's foyer.

"You know they lock up at 9pm, right," came a familiar voice from the empty hall. No way was he there. She couldn't possibly be that unlucky.

"You'd think they'd check the bathrooms before closing," Lucy snapped, shifting her heavy backpack from one shoulder to the other. The only good part about Natsu being there? He must know a way out. "I'm assuming you know where an exit is?"

Natsu brought his thumb and forefinger to his face in a pensive manner, stroking his jaw rhythmically as he 'thought' over her request. His eyes glittered in the random overhead lights that remained on overnight before locking his sights on her. "I may…" he drawled, a grin creeping to his lips. "...if you're feeling adventurous."

"Natsu...seriously? Wake up…"

Erza's strong, yet hushed, voice and a few strong jostles were what woke Natsu from his nap. When had he fallen asleep? One minute he'd been studying in the library with Gray, Erza, Gajeel, and a few others and the next he was being assaulted by the red-headed devil-woman herself. Feeling the remnants of dried drool in the corner of his lips was all the proof he needed.

For the past couple of weeks, the grad student's sleep schedule had taken a very hard dive. Between school, teaching, tutoring, fraternity life, and talking to Starfire, he found that he didn't have time for much else. Luckily he hadn't gotten asked to work for a catering event. He couldn't imagine having to work that into his schedule too. He knew he needed to sleep more but there just weren't enough hours in the day. Unfortunately, he couldn't bring himself to sleep if it meant he couldn't talk to his new cyber-friend. Making a very hard decision quickly before he changed his mind, he shot her a message to let her know he wouldn't be able to chat that night, giving her some excuse he knew would work. He hated lying but what was he supposed to say to her? 'Hey, I love talking to you so much I've stopped sleeping right. I need a night to fix my system.' Shaking his head slightly and rubbing his lips, Natsu grinned. "Thanks for the wake-up call," he teased, yawning while stretching in his seat. The glare she gave him was the only answer he needed.

The rest of the gang was already packing up their bags when the TA noticed that it was ten minutes until nine. He still had to stop by his student office to pick-up a textbook he'd accidentally left behind before going back to the house. Luckily for him, his tiny closet was located there in Precht Hall on the bottom floor. Grabbing his own things, he broke away from his friends to hopefully make it out before the guards locked the doors. Obviously, he knew the ways out but still. No one enjoyed being trapped in a borderline ancient, musty, campus library.

Running down the four flights of stairs, Natsu sprinted across the dark tiled halls until he reached his office door. He found his book on the corner of his desk, right where his sleep-deprived ass had left it, and decided to walk casually toward one of the emergency exits near the front door seeing as how it was 9:02pm. Passing by the restrooms, he recognized a certain backpack out of the corner of his eye, sitting on the floor outside the women's room. The dark blue fabric covered in silver stars meant one person, Lucy.

Natsu forced himself to keep walking toward his destination. If he stopped, she'd find him there and Gods only knew what she'd think of him then. First, he broke her heart (accidentally), then he became her TA, and then what? The creepy guy in the dark, desolate library after close? Lucy was smart, she'd find the emergency exit too. He began to doubt himself when he heard her yanking on the wooden door and whining.

"You know they lock up at 9pm, right?" the grad student asked, walking up the hall to meet her in the expansive foyer. Lucy appeared a bit frustrated, but her tone said it all.

"You'd think they'd check the bathrooms before closing," she snapped at him. He noticed her face tense a little when she moved her backpack and switched shoulders. Her body screamed 'exhausted' in its slow, lethargic movements. If he was being honest, without his constant workouts with Gray, he'd probably be a lot worse for wear too. "I'm assuming you know where an exit is?"

Should he take her to the normal exit? He couldn't describe it, but a little voice somewhere in the back of his mind told him 'Hell No'.

Playfully, Natsu brought his fingers to his chin and stroked it as he pondered his options. Couldn't take her out the front door. The emergency exit in the back of the library was equally as boring. That's when the idea struck. "I may…if you're feeling adventurous," he teased. Before she could swat his hand away, the older man had reached over and grabbed her backpack, throwing it over his shoulder with his own bag. He could tell she wasn't happy about it, but she'd be a whole lot unhappier when she figured out what they were about to do.

Leading them both toward the elevator, Lucy looked at him with confusion in her big gorgeous brown eyes. "Is there a basement or something?" she asked, her voice soft but still strong.

Her question made him grin more brightly. She was in for a rough awakening. "Not quite," he replied, leading them into the cramped, brass elevator. Looking her in the eyes, the grad student pressed the button on the top of the row, marked "Roof Access".

#nalu fic #nalu fanfic #ftfanfics #cyber space is always sweeter #;csias

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kyuiuiuiu · 7 years ago

Text

The Second Sun

I'm so sad, because I was drawing the fanart and my computer just stopped working. The screen is black and doesn't works... Fortunately, the progress was saved ;; but I'm not sure that I can upload fanarts according to the day during the week. Maybe I'll be late for it ;; Well, at least I have the fanfic for you! So here's the chapter 5 uwu

Chapter list:

Chapter 1 - The Distrust.

Chapter 2 - The Reflection.

Chapter 3 - The Fear.

Chapter 4 - The Lie.

Chapter 5 - The sun?

Days passed, turning into weeks, and Yoosung didn’t understand when everything had become so different. Each visit was colder than the previous one, and Saeran no longer responded as before. It was as if they had gone back to the beginning, where he only stared out the window and ignored his presence, even knowing he was there. Yoosung began to wonder what he could have done wrong to make it all turn that way, but he couldn’t find an answer. Only managed to associate it to that day when he began to talk about Rika and V, when Saeran asked about his career. Had that made him angry? Perhaps Seven was right that it was a tricky subject for him? If that was the case, then he understood that Saeran would get upset, though he didn’t think the change would be so abrupt.

What was happening hurt him a lot, especially since Saeran had become someone very important and special to him. He didn’t have many friends off screen, and for him, Saeran was that and much more. He was grateful that someone with his past had trusted an ordinary person like him. It was different from the friendship he had with Saeyoung. Saeran... made him feel more than that. By his side he felt that he could talk about anything and he would listen, even if he didn’t care about the subject. He noticed it, since he seemed to be an observant and attentive person from the beginning, despite his indifference.

Day after day of visits, he tried to keep the thread of the conversation going, but Saeran’s indifference made him want to see him carefully, waiting for him to turn to look him in the eye, as before... but this didn’t happen.

One day while Yoosung was trying to find a topic of conversation as he struggled with Saeran's rejection, Yoosung began to despair.

What could he do?

“You know... Maybe this doesn’t matter to you, but I don’t have many friends —He began to say—. When I went to school it was different, there I was quite popular, but after entering the university everything changed... I wanted to change my image, and I even found a hobby that is LOLOL... I... I haven’t said this to anyone else, but the truth is that I feel so envious of people like you. Jumin, Zen, Jaehee, Seven, Rika, even V... and you too —His voice cracked a little, causing Saeran to turn to him slyly after weeks of pretending to ignore him. Then he noticed that Yoosung was doing his best to hold back a pout, it seemed that he was about to cry—. I am just an ordinary person, without grace. I don’t have great talents beyond playing all day. If it wasn’t for the university, I would be a total slacker... It hurts a lot to think that you are good for nothing, that you will never reach those you admire no matter how hard you try. And it hurts even more when the one you want to reach insists on steadily getting away from you. I... Ah, I don’t know what I do saying all this, I must be making a fool of myself” He finished saying, covering his face with both hands.

He really felt he was making a fool of himself, but just when he was going to resign himself and run, a presence alerted him.

He removed his hands from his face, and could see that Saeran was only inches away. He gasped, because he didn’t even notice when he got out of bed and crouched in front of him.

What a bad day to sit on the floor and not the usual chair, huh?

His cheeks burned, his heart felt like it was coming out of his chest. Saeran's eyes were fixed on his again, after weeks of rejection.

What was happening?

“Ah...” he tried to articulate.

“You are not an ordinary person.”

“What are you saying...?” he murmured, looking away to the floor.

“In my opinion you are not an ordinary person. A normal person wouldn’t have insisted so much on me.”

“Is that... a compliment?” He asked himself.

Saeran sighed and returned to his place on the bed by the window, watching the sky. He knew that if he stayed much longer near Yoosung something could happen, although he couldn’t define exactly what.

What Yoosung made him feel was an indescribable for him, and after weeks of rejection he couldn’t stand it anymore. Again he hated his weakness and lack of courage, but he knew that sooner or later his punishment for being so pathetic would come, and that comforted him in a very particular way, although he didn’t stop worrying.

Yoosung, for his part, still had his face reddened by what had just happened. He tried to think of something else, but the image of the other boy's eyes so close to him was lingering in his mind. His heart was racing faster and faster, so he thought it would be a good idea to try to talk about something else to forget it or at least to distract himself.

“This… —He began to stutter— Why do you always look at the sky?”

The moment Saeran heard that question, his expression changed to one of nostalgia and some sadness, causing the blond to regret immediately for having let that doubt out of his mind. He thought it was very foolish of him to ask Saeran something like that, since he knew it was something he did insistently. It probably had to do with his painful past and he didn’t know... But to his surprise, Saeran left any negative thoughts aside and replied.

“When I see the sky, I feel free —He starts to explain—. There is no pain. Clouds always change its shapes, so it's also interesting to guess what they look like.”

Yoosung felt relief in his chest after Saeran answered his question, and inadvertently —And in the midst of emotion— he screwed it again.

“Oh, I see... Hehe, Rika used to watch the sun a lot after V died. It must be something similar...”

After realizing that he had begun to talk again about his cousin, he covered his mouth, but Saeran was sympathetic and followed the flow.

Deep down, he missed talking to him. Even if it was about her.

“Maybe… Why did she see the sun?”

Yoosung was puzzled by the sudden question, even more so with a question about his cousin. But since it was something that would not happen any often, he tried to remember everything Rika had told him about it.

“Well, Rika said... She said that V was like the sun.”

Saeran looked at him in confusion.

“V?”

“Yes —he nodded— that’s what she said. I remember that many times while we were talking, she mentioned that V was like the sun. She used to tell me that with him she felt safe, because she knew that in his company she could show her true self without fear. That he would accept her as she was... To her, V was the light of her life, radiant as the sun, bathing her with his warm soul and leading her way. I don’t understand very well what Rika was trying to tell me, but I always interpreted it as that he was a very good person with her... Well, Rika also said that I wouldn’t understand it until I tried it, hehe..."

When Yoosung finished explaining, Saeran was thoughtful about it.

The sun... radiant, warm, a light that guided your path. That made you feel sure to be who you really are, as it would always come to illuminate your life.

Saeran glanced up at the sky once more, then hid his head between his knees, which he held lightly.

Yoosung started to worry when he saw him act like that all of a sudden.

“Hey, do you feel bad? Do you want me to bring you something?”

Saeran turned his head so that only one of his eyes could see Yoosung.

“No, I'm fine. Just ... let's talk about something else.”

“Let’s talk…” Thought Yoosung with some excitement. Okay, they had been talking for a while, but it made him happy to think that everything would be back to normal.

“Okay” He murmured with a smile as he tried to think of some subject that might be of interest for him.

The afternoon passed just like it used to do be a few weeks ago when everything was fine. Sunset was already approaching, so Yoosung decided it was best to leave. He said goodbye as usual and retired in silence with a smile in his face.

After talking about the sun with Yoosung, Saeran couldn’t stop thinking about the subject. He felt suffocated by being in his room, so he got ready and left without his brother seeing him, because it was obvious that he would stop him. According to him, he was not yet able to go to the outside world.

Saeran could live with that, since he never felt the need to leave... but this time was different.

It was starting to get dark and Saeran was just wandering aimlessly down the street. He managed to reach a nearby park, where he looked for the most distant tree and sat by the foot of it. To his luck, it was surrounded by other trees, so it was a perfect hideaway.

The wind began to blow quite strongly, and Saeran supposed that it was due to recent climate changes. However, he didn’t give it more importance and continued there, leaning on the trunk with his eyes closed.

As Saeran tried to calm his mind, Saeyoung became aware of his absence and began to despair. The first thing he thought of was to call the only person with whom he had contact. He knew Yoosung would never take him without warning, but he wanted to make sure he was okay. Although, to his bad luck, the instant of answering the call and hearing the question, Yoosung replied immediately that his brother was not with him. Both began to worry, and then Yoosung offered his help to the older twin, which he accepted delightedly.

What worried Saeyoung the most was the latest weather report, where they had announced heavy rain during the evening.

Next Chapter »

#yooranweek #yooranweek day5 #yooranweek day 5 #yooran #yoosung #kim yoosung #saeran #saeran choi #saeyoung choi #mystic messenger #mystic messenger fanfic #fanfic #luciel choi #my art #yooran fanfic #saeran x yoosung #yoosung x saeran

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johnchiarello · 7 years ago

Text

Friends

FRIENDS-

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Luke 22

Furman and Bill- https://youtu.be/AiCCd_tBnXE

http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-Db

.The bay

.Testimonies

.The Harley

.The island

.Habits of righteousness

.Sifted like wheat

James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

James 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Jason- Albert- Bobby- Claire- https://youtu.be/JQTUmqnFM6s

http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-Dc

.Jason plays guitar

.The park

.John Prine

.Faith in the dream- can you hear it?

2 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

NEW- Every week or so I like to post some of the stories of my friends.

The day I made these videos I really had no plan.

As I left the house- I saw Furman on a jetty down the street- right off the bay.

So I stopped- hung out for a while.

Then Bill showed up- they share some good stuff on the video- real life stuff.

I had a motorcycle cover that I don’t use- when I bought my bike the guy gave me the cover.

I don't need one- so I gave it to Furman- for his Harley.

It worked out well.

On the 2nd video Jason plays some good music- I’m not sure if you will be able to hear it- it was windy [I Haven't reviewed it yet].

But the song actually has a good message to it.

Furman brought up some bible verses- and I’ll add them below- and try and find some past teaching I did that might fit- and copy that as well.

The sense - feeling of this day was seeing how my friends have survived- for many years- while being homeless.

Many of them own very little- what you see on the videos- is often all they have.

Yet they have managed to live- exist- have their own struggles in life- and have also experienced God working in their lives.

Yet many of them live simple lives.

Yes- some struggle with addiction- others have different battles.

But to see them live- without a lot of stuff- is a testimony in itself-

Matthew 6:25

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Some times after I shut the camera off- they worry about if they did ok.

I tell them just sharing their stories- being honest- giving their stories is of great value.

It’s real life- not perfect- but real.

I’m not doing videos every day I see the guys- but I felt it was good to still do them every so often.

I hope you get something out of it-

God bless you all-

John

PAST POSTS [Verses below]

https://ccoutreach87.com/john-complete-links-added/

https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/06/30/friday-6-30-17/

https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/06/05/friends/

https://ccoutreach87.com/house-of-prayer-or-den-of-thieves/

The guys talked about grace- below are my studies that deal with grace-

http://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/p/romans-2015-video-links-included-romans.html

http://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/p/galatians-links.html

(627) JOHN 18 (radio # 601) Jesus is betrayed in the garden. John follows Jesus all the way to the judgment, Peter stops short at the door. Why does John record this? Is he being self serving? He is the only gospel writer that tells you this [If I remember?] I think there is a purpose. Jesus already taught the principle of ‘whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but he that is wiling to give it up will save it’. All the others fled out of self preservation. John stayed. All the others will eventually die martyrs deaths, except for John! He will wind up on some island in his old age writing this tremendous prophetic vision [Revelation]. Truly he that was willing to give his life up outlasted them all! Actually if you read the last chapter of John this becomes an issue. Jesus tells Peter ‘if I will that John lives until I come, what is that to thee’? Then a rumor gets started over John not dieing until the 2nd coming! Hey, I wonder what they thought as they were all getting martyred one by one. Each time another disciple dies, they must have been thinking ‘hey, Johns still here, maybe he will live till Jesus comes’? The high priest asks Jesus of his doctrine AND disciples. Both Paul and Jesus had ‘doctrine and disciples’. Paul was a theologian on the run! Getting let down in baskets from city walls. Being stoned and put in prison. Paul was writing theology under crisis. Jesus and Paul weren’t some ivory tower theologians speculating on the latest fad in theology. They were ‘doing the stuff’. I want to challenge all my preacher friends, do you have doctrine and disciples? Let’s end this chapter in a little controversy. In verse 31 it says ‘the Jews’. Verses 35 ‘thine own nation AND the chief priests’. Verses 36 ‘delivered to the Jews’. Verses 38 ‘unto the Jews’. I want you to see how the scripture makes it clear that BOTH the leaders and the Nation of Israel rejected Messiah! Jesus in this chapter says he IS THE KING OF THE JEWS! Peter’s sermons in the book of Acts accuse the Jews as a whole group of rejecting Jesus, not just a ‘conspiracy of the leaders and Rome’ [as John Hagee is teaching]. I don’t want to be anti Semitic, some have actually accused John’s gospel of being anti Semitic. Hey, John himself was a Jew! The point is God has great plans for Israel as a Nation. Read Romans. But it is also a fact that ‘the Jews’ as a people group missed their Messiah. This chapter makes it pretty clear! Also when Peter cuts off the guys ear, Jesus says ‘stop, we are not here to fight. Shall I not drink the cup which my father gave me’? Paul will later teach that his own sufferings were ‘filling up the sufferings of Christ’s Body’ this would be heretical if it weren’t in the bible! Paul and the other early believers understood the calling to suffer along with the ‘being full’ part. I have heard the ‘being full’ verse used out of context a lot! Paul does says ‘I have learned to be content in any condition [state] both having a lot and a little’. I have heard preachers say ‘see, Paul knew how to be rich as well as broke’ no he didn’t! He was never rich. He knew how to have all his needs met [full] and to lack [times of suffering and imprisonment where he couldn’t get the basic stuff to do what he needed to do to carry on the mission]. Jesus says to Peter ‘shall I avoid the cup’? I think the modern American church has answered ‘yes’. I was reading the voice of the martyrs magazine yesterday. How so many believers are suffering and dieing for the faith. In Revelation it says it was the prayers of the martyrs that carried the day. Boy will we be embarrassed at the judgment when we find out it was the prayers of our martyred brothers and sisters who died in our day who really were changing things. And at the same time we were confessing money verses all the way to the bank!

VERSES- [These are the verses the guys quoted- or we talked about on the videos]

Romans 6:19

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Romans 8:31

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Luke 12:48 [Full Chapter]

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

John 18:15-27

King James Version (KJV)

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matt. 6

Matthew 22:34-40

King James Version (KJV)

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Psalm 46:10 [Full Chapter]

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

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